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 three crowded trees near the Miners Memorial Rock. "I'm saying we should put 2 small trees there instead of 2 Lindens," Carl said while reviewing the marked plan.

Carl also flagged a proposed electrical box close to a preserved oak and reported having spoken with a contractor who said the new service could be directionally bored and shifted north to increase distance from the tree. "If we shift it more north, it's gonna be well out of 13 feet away from it," Carl said about the relocated pad and conduit.

Board members voiced stronger concerns for two Siberian elms along Seventh Street that sit close to the curb, sidewalk and a dry well. The elms are already close to pavement and have buttress roots; the board said those trees may not be good candidates for long-term preservation. Carl advised further analysis and suggested the town consider creating larger engineered rooting spaces (he cited an estimate of 2,700 cubic feet minimum as an example) or using underground structural cells where sidewalks or paving limit root volume.

Members pressed for an accurate, full-scale plan to permit meaningful review and measurements. "We should be looking at this meeting around the table at the full size plan," one member said, noting printed reductions on agenda copies made it difficult to read spacing and tree locations. The board requested the owner's representative or the town provide a full-scale, legible landscape plan and an irrigation plan before the board issues formal advisory comments.

Funding and planting logistics were discussed as well. A donor identified as "80 Miller" has agreed to cover the cost of a 7-inch caliper replacement oak and its planting; Carl proposed deducting the difference if the town purchases a smaller, more appropriate specimen and using the remainder for other plantings or site improvements. Board members also discussed the possibility of replacing the problematic Siberian elms with multiple oaks and adding evergreen plantings for winter interest.

On maintenance, Carl recommended contracting out intensive bed maintenance for at least the first three years after planting rather than assigning it to town crews. Board members repeatedly asked who would maintain plantings along the ditch bank, who would be responsible for irrigation repairs and how mulch and plantings would be kept in place during high wind and runoff events.

Timing: board members noted the project will not be implemented before 2026 and suggested an Arbor Day planting and public outreach tied to the aquatic center site once details are finalized. Carl reported the town received a growth award from the Arbor Day Foundation and that he expects a shipment of roughly 27 trees from the Colorado Tree Coalition in April.

Formal actions at the meeting were limited. The board moved and seconded approval of February minutes; no roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript and the minutes approval proceeded without recorded objection. The meeting concluded after the aquatic center discussion and several other routine agenda items.

The board asked staff to: obtain and distribute a full-size, to-scale landscape and irrigation plan; confirm the electrical-box placement and options to move it; provide a soils or as-built utility plan for the site where available; clarify the donor funding line item(s) for the replacement tree; and return with a clear maintenance and irrigation responsibility plan so the tree board can provide a formal advisory memo to the town manager, public works and the Board of Trustees. Carl said he would prepare a memo and requested written, prioritized comments from board members to combine into advisory comments to staff.

Votes at a glance: The transcript records a motion and second to approve the minutes; no roll-call or counts are recorded. The meeting adjournment was also moved and seconded and carried.

Looking ahead, the board reiterated it must review a full-scale plan before issuing final recommendations and recommended that the town or owner's representative provide a printed plan set that the board can mark up at a future meeting.