Supervisors defer decision on bamboo

Members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and local residents spoke in favor of an ordinance aimed at containing running bamboo at a public hearing Feb. 22. In the end, however, the board deferred a decision.

Board members cited concerns that the proposed fines for violators might be too high and would have a disproportionate impact on lower-income residents. They also cited confusion about who is responsible for removing the bamboo when it isn’t clear who planted it.

Running bamboo is an invasive species that spreads aggressively and has no regard for property boundaries. Removing it is difficult and costly.

The ordinance would prohibit property owners from allowing running bamboo to invade adjacent properties or public land, such as a VDOT right of way or parkland.

Enforcement would be a complaint-driven process, like other issues handled by the Department of Code Compliance (DCC). According to the draft ordinance, the penalty for the first violation would be up to $50; the maximum fine would be $3,000 a year.

“It’s not going to be an easy one to enforce,” DCC Director Jack Weyant told the board. “We’ll do more outreach and education than imposing fines.”

Related story: Board considers curbing bamboo

When someone files a complaint, Weyant said, DCC would first encourage the homeowner to take action to contain the bamboo, such as by digging a trench and installing a metal containment barrier to prevent the underground rhizomes from spreading.

Violators would be given 30 days to comply. Code compliance inspectors would then revisit the property to see if the homeowner is doing anything to curb the bamboo. If not, they would get a notice of violation. The imposition of fines would be handled by the courts.

Property owners would be responsible for bamboo encroaching on other properties, even if it was planted by someone else, Weyant said. “We have no way to identify where it came from.” If it spreads from one yard to another and then to a third yard, all three homeowners would be responsible.

All eight community members who spoke at the public hearing said they support efforts to control running bamboo but raised issues not addressed in the ordinance.

One resident suggested the Park Authority take responsibility for removing bamboo on parkland.

Others noted that local nurseries sell running bamboo as a fast-growing privacy screen and suggested residents be educated about noninvasive alternatives.

“Invasive species are harmful to the environment,” said Supervisor Daniel Storck (Mount Vernon). “We need to find ways to minimize the impact. If we don’t do something now it will only get worse.”

Board Chair Jeffrey McKay spoke in favor of taking action against running bamboo but urged the matter be deferred so the language in the ordinance can be clarified.

“Going to court should only be for egregious violators that refuse to take action,” McKay said.

The board passed a motion unanimously to defer a vote on the ordinance until March 22.