Town Set to Enforce Bamboo Growth Limits in 2012

In the Town of Smithtown’s efforts to rectify the ongoing bamboo controversy, the town board unanimously approved an ordinance forcing bamboo owners to properly maintain the plant.

Bamboo owners now have to keep the plant 10 feet off of their property line, and have six months after a complaint is made to do so.

The law went into effect Tuesday night, and bamboo owners will have until year’s end to get the plant within the set limits. Public Safety will begin enforcing the law in Jan. 2012.

“I think that town government has a responsibility here, I really do … people’s property should be sacrosanct to intrusion by plant or human,” said Town Supervisor Patrick Vecchio following Tuesday’s town board meeting.

, with a split of those in favor of restrictions and those opposed.

, who have been involved since 2004 in a feud with a neighbor whose bamboo infiltrated their property.