Is bamboo taking over Southgate?
Some residents say yes, and city council reviewed two versions of an ordinance last week that would address how to deal with overgrowth into nearby property.
The first version, City Attorney Mary Ann Stewart said, is a complete ban.
“So what that means is that if you currently are growing bamboo, you would be able to grow it to the controls in this ordinance,” Stewart said. “But if it died in your yard, you would not be able to replant.”
The second version, Steward said, would allow residents to replant bamboo if it dies.
Southgate resident Christine Bauer told council members that bamboo from a nearby property is encroaching on her lawn – a problem she said has been going on for eight or nine years.
“I’ve been working with the city Code Enforcement the last eight years, and I’m realizing now that something else needs to be done because it’s moving very fast,” Bauer said. “It’s very aggressive. It’s hard to eradicate.”
Stewart said if plants encroach onto a neighboring property, both owners would have to contain them.
Any pre-existing scheduled species planted before the law comes into effect will be grandfathered in, but only under strict guidelines. These include constructing impenetrable fencing at the property line of any unaffected land and a potential $200 fine if overgrowth does occur.
