Wild Plant Growers Subject to Penalty Under Amended Ordinance

The Lacey Township Committee recently approved an ordinance requiring residents to control the growth of invasive plants or face potential violations.

"There seems to be this belief that we're going to peoples homes and ripping their plants out of their houses, which is nothing futher than the truth," Committeeman Sean Sharkey said at the Committee's regular meeting Thursday.

Township officials have previously said the ordinance is an attempt to ensure residents' plants — such as bamboo, ragwood, oak, etc. — do not grow to the point of intruding on others' property. 

The ordinance defines invasive plants as “all native and non-native vines and vegetation that grow out of place and are competitive, persistent and pernicious.”

Residents who do not control vegetation on their properties would be subject to a violation from the code enforcement officer requiring them to remove or control the plant. If the resident fails to comply, the township would take steps to trim the plant or remove it. 

The amendment included violations, which were not originally incorporated in the ordinance.

Lacey residents who violate the ordinance will receive a fine of no less than $50 and no more than $250.

A violation will be given to the owner in writing, to remove or abate the invasive plant within a given time. The recommended time is in years, due to the difficulty of removing bamboo. The cost of abatement is on the property owner.

If the property owner fails to comply with the violation, an enforcing official may remove or control the plant and the township will recover the cost.

The Committee recently received a letter concerned about the ordinance. A resident's neighbor was accusing him of poisioning his plants, but they had encroached on his property more than 30 feet, Mayor David Most said.

"What kind of neighbor would do that, and why are we here passign an ordinance about bamboo when the reality of it is if people took care of their property, we wouldn't be in this situation," he said. "It really doesn't come down to bamboo or anything, it just comes down to being a good neighbor and taking care of your business."