Environmental Commission Considers Invasive Plants Ordinance

Manchester's weighed in on an upcoming ordinance regulating the growth of invasive plants, saying that the proposal needed to more clearly define what vegetation is considered invasive and how repeat offenses should be handled.

"I think the critical thing here is the definition of invasive plants," said commission chairperson Robert Runyon at the body's Sept. 20 meeting. Though certain plants may fit the definition as being "invasive," they may also be purposefully grown by the person living at the property and not adversely affect neighboring land.

"There are some horticultural plants that fit that definition that people might plant, like wisteria, would be included in here or not," he said.

Township Council Vice President Brendan Weiner supplied the commission with a sample ordinance from Brick Township that Manchester will model its upon.

The rules would also create penalties for residents who plant certain species of vegetation that invade other properties.

"This ordinance would really help people like me," said Donna Luft, a Pine Lake Park resident who came to the meeting to support the ordinance after her neighbor planted quick-growing bamboo that has spread underground into her property.

"It pops up like a spear," she said. "There were 11 shoots piercing through the pool."

The ordinance would give clear guidance to zoning officials about what offenses should receive a summons, said commission secretary Marianne Borthwick.

"The zoning board officer has difficulty with that," she said. "They'll get called about different things that are overrun and that's why [the township] felt there should be something in place to say 'how do we act on it?'"

Commission member Donald Somerset recommended that the ordinance specify that a summons should be issued if the plant in question grows into a neighboring property.

Runyon proposed further clarification of the ordinance, recommending that an individual would be in repeat violation if invasive vegetation consistently returns year after year.

"If they abate it now and kill the plant and it comes back, they're in violation again," he said. Each regrowth of an invasive species should be considered a separate offense, Runyon said. 

This means, according to Somerset, that if a person cleaned up an invasive plant and it came back the next year, they would be responsible for cleaning it up again or face a summons.

The commission — except for Somerset who abstained since he suggested that Luft attend the meeting to voice her concerns — voted in favor of supporting the ordinance. The recommendations now will be submitted to the township council, which will draft and vote on the ordinance.