Brookhaven Extends Public Hearing on Bamboo Ban

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.

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