BRUNSWICK

The removal of trees along Jordan Avenue near the Brunswick Executive Airport landing strip has raised a few eyebrows in town.

An area about the size of a football field near Jordan Avenue was cleared of trees, according to Town Councilor John Perreault, who, along with Council Chairman Benet Pols, said he had been contacted by several constituents concerned about the removal.

“It was a shock to me to see how expansive it was,” said Pols during a council meeting Monday.

The trees were cleared for the safety of pilots using the airport and was mandated by the Federal Aviation Admin- istration.

“Essentially, it’s a required cutting,” said Interim Town Manager John Eldridge.

The trees were allowed to stay when the airfield was under Navy control, said Pols.

Just cutting off only the tops of the trees would have been “incredibly inefficient,” said Pols, and noted that the remainder of the trees would have rotted.

The cut was legal, said Pols, who noted that the trees were on private property.

The FAA also consulted with the town’s water district regarding the aquifer protection zone, according to Pols.

The codes office was also informed ahead of the cutting, said Eldridge.

Jordan Avenue terminates at Bath Road, across from the approach of two massive landing strips once used by the Brunswick Naval Air Station.

The cut trees have been sold to a lumber company, according to Pols.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com

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