When notices began appearing on trees in the Henry Carter Hull Library parking lot earlier this month to announce their intended removal to make way for a paving project, residents took notice and voiced their concern and surprise. Now, the fate of the trees is heading to a public hearing on Monday, Aug. 8 in the parking lot of the library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton.

“The library is in dire need of a new parking lot. We looked into having the parking lines repainted and we were advised that it was time to completely redo the lot, not just the lines,” explained library director Maribeth Breen. “The Library Board of Trustees requested the project be included in the 2022-’23 town capital budget that was then approved by referendum.”

Multiple concerned individuals reached out to the Harbor News to express their dismay at the trees coming down. Beyond the aesthetic pleasure the trees provide, some people said that trees provide important roles for the environment and should be left standing.

Each municipality in Connecticut is required to have a tree warden. The job includes assessing the risk posed by trees, as well as approving or denying requests for planting and removal of trees. The warden doesn’t physically remove any of the trees on public property, but they can approve a request to remove them.

Gary Bousquet has been the tree warden in Clinton for most of the last 12 years and said that he takes requests for removal on a case-by-case basis. He added that multiple times over the years he’s denied requests to remove trees if he thinks the request is unreasonable.

Bousquet said that the request to remove the trees in the library parking lot is not unreasonable.

Bousquet told the Harbor News that he was approached by Public Works Director Todd Hajek about the plan to repave the library parking lot, and after examining the trees in the lot, he agreed removing them was in order.

Bousquet said that the current trees, which he said are likely London Planetree trees, are not trees recommended for the location.

“They have very intrusive root systems that can cause the parking lot to heave. The root systems will be compromised,” said Bousquet.

However, the parking lot won’t be bereft of trees for long.

“We’re going to put the islands in and get recommendations from the tree committee for more appropriate trees,” said Bousquet. According to Bousquet, a similar process was followed at The Morgan School parking lot where he said “smaller trees with less intrusive root systems were planted.”

“The DPW (Department of Public Works) director and library director are all in agreement with this,” said Bousquet.

Hajek said he anticipated the paving to occur in September.

“The trees have been in the islands for over 30 years and have roots that are breaking through the pavement and could be a potential tripping hazard,” Breen said. “I have been assured that as part of the new parking lot project, the Town would be planting new trees, trees that are better suited for a parking lot island. We are sad to see the trees go, too but hope that the new trees that take their place will be a nice addition to our facility.”

“I’m very glad that people are passionate about trees and everyone who comes out will be heard,” Bousquet said of the public hearing.