Council Discusses Bamboo Ban

The Woodbridge Township council is considering a ban on invasive plants in the township, including such resilient species as bamboo, poison ivy, poison oak and ragweed, which tend to grow out of control.

Councilwoman Michelle Charmello said the proposed ordinance banning the plants came about from the complaints of residents who have bamboo on their properties, often coming from an adjacent yard.

The ordinance was introduced on first reading, but tabled to be reintroduced at the next meeting, with an amendment proposed by Councilman Robert Luban.

The amendment proposed a two-year period for homeowners to remove the plants from their property, as they can be difficult, Luban said.

The township would conduct quarterly check-ins on the progress, he said.

Bamboo is an "extensive" problem in the township's Fifth Ward, he said.

Councilwoman-at-Large Brenda Yori Velasco also proposed that the council rexamine the definition of "invasive species" in regards to the plants affected by by the ordinance.

Despite the discussion mostly centering on bamboo, Charmello said the ordinance extends to other invasive species of plants.

Luban said the council designed the ordinance with input from similar existing ordinances from Lacey Township and Brick in Ocean County, as well as one in New York.

Last month, the South Brunswick Township council ultimately decided against banning bamboo, claiming the ordinance would be too difficult to keep tabs on.