At Tuesday's Broohaven Town Board meeting, the public hearing period for new legislation that would ban the planting of bamboo and regulate existing bamboo by extended by 10 days.
According to a report in the Times Beacon Record Newspapers, Councilwoman Kathy Walsh, R-Centereach, introduced the bill. If passed, bamboo planting by any resident or corporation in the Town of Brookhaven would be banned. Also, owners of pre-existing bamboo must "confine such species to prevent the encroachment, spread, invasion or intrusion" to any neighboring property.
The proposed law would set fines of $500 to $2,000 for violations. Those with bamboo would have 15 days to confine it. Second offenders face a fine between $1,000 and $3,000 with a maximum prison sentence of six months. A third violation would result in a Class B misdemeanor charge.
The first public hearing on the matter was held March 20. The extension to the public hearing was made due to opposition to the law and is designed to give residents time to write their concerns and send them to the board.
Click here to read the full report from the Times Beacon Record Newspapers.
Do you agree or disagree with the legislation? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and .
We need LESS government not more. Really.....with all the issues facing us from all levels of government, why is banning BAMBOO on the top of the list for Brookhaven? How long until Mimosa trees are banned due to their wispy seed pods? Or a mandatory removal of poison ivy on your property b/c it spreads to the neighbors. Another perfect example of "make work" by politicians, and another reason why these town board members should be part time and paid $1 per year for their service. Think that's crazy? Check out NH and TX state legislatures
I don't have a stick of bamboo but 1 day I might want to... Personally I don't wanna stick around 4 what's next? Why don't we restrict my neighbors barbeque because the smoke bothers me. They truly is no end to the lunacy.
Bamboo is considered a "stigma", meaning "if" you sell your house you have to disclose the presence of bamboo on your property to prospective buyer at the time of sale, and if you don't the sale can be voided...meaning lots of lost money ALL AROUND. Also bamboo is so destructive a plant, on it's own and not "barriered" or enclosed properly, that it can destroy your cess pool, your foundation, the leeching of water near your foundation, and if you have a swimming pool, it's powerful to go right through the sides of the pool. All the WHINERS who are talking "nanny state" jibberish, have no personal experience with the destructive possibilities of bamboo to their property...as well as how irresponsible homeowners can be not caring about their actions to other members of the community. How about the "bamboo sellers" owning up to selling illegal, invasive plants to irresponsible homeowners ? NO that will never happen. This law is designed to make people responsible for their Actions, PERIOD, and punishing those homeowners who could care less about anyone, OTHER THAN THEMSELVES !
As for your socalled "Freedoms", don't look know but that other hand in your pocket is Mark Lesko and the Town Board...and they been there for some time now !
Hiding behind your bamboo ?
Unfortunately, there are more people who could care LESS about keeping it under control than people like you. This is where a strict law like this one has to be passed, to protect us from those BOOBS who have no sense of personal responsibility.
While it is not "harmless", it is WAY less capable of destruction than many tree roots. I have had bamboo next to my pool for 20 years. It's roots are very dependent upon greenery. To remove large areas of it, I merely trimmed it at ground level (reciprocating saw) and threw on some grass clippings and soil and.......thee end. It tries to sprout a few more times (just a kick to the 3 to 6 inch sprouts and they pop out) but then the root system suffers massive die-off. Try that with an oak or maple tree !
Well that's your experience. But your background in the destructiveness of bamboo is sorely lacking. You are being disingenuous.
It's not an "arbitrary" idea. Try selling your home in the vicinity of a bamboo forest and you will be surprised at just what your house value is. Unfortunately these "types" who don't care about others and who don't have respect for another person's property, are out there...but you wouldn't know from some of these posts. We are supposed to suspend our collective Intellect, and think everything is Pink Moons and Marshmallow Clouds ! It's a surprise but this legislation is very thoughtful..but if you are a Bamboo Lover you wouldn't think so.