Carbondale Tree Board raises concerns about aquatic center landscape plan, urges full-scale plans and protections for preserved oak

Carbondale — The Carbondale Tree Board reviewed the landscape plan for the town's new aquatic center at its March 20 meeting and urged changes to tree species, spacing and placement, stronger protections for a preserved oak, and clearer planting and maintenance plans before the project proceeds.

Board members focused on tree-spacing errors, the proximity of a proposed electrical box to a protected oak, potential conflicts between sidewalks and existing trees, and long-term maintenance and funding. Carl, arborist/staff member, presented a written memo with required changes, recommendations and concerns and asked the board for additional input.

The discussion mattered because landscape decisions will affect tree survival, long-term maintenance costs and public use of the site, the board said. Members also flagged how planting choices could affect pool filtration and public safety, and they urged a clear irrigation and maintenance plan and a scaled, full-size plan for the board's review.

Most immediate technical recommendations included replacing two medium lindens in the northeast bed with two smaller trees (a Spring Snow crabapple and an Ivory Silk Japanese tree lilac were suggested on the plan), reducing the caliper size of a replacement chinkapin oak from 7 inches to about 2———3 inches to improve establishment, and using two shrubs instead of…