Protect Kirkland Trees is a group of neighbors who stand in opposition to the development of multiple homes on a single lot in the South Rose Hill neighborhood of Kirkland, WA. 

We are raising funds to continue our litigation against the City of Kirkland for issuing building permits in violation of the law.  Help us reach 1,000 people in ten days.  An average donation of only $40 will meet our fundraising goal!

We also have a website: www.ProtectKirklandTrees.com

In Kirkland, Excessive Tree Pruning is the Same as Tree Removal:  For over a year we have voiced our concerns about a developer's excessive pruning of the only remaining large trees on the lot. 

Over 50-percent of the live canopy on each tree was removed! This type of excessive pruning meets the definition of TREE REMOVAL as defined in the Kirkland Zoning Code. Furthermore, the damaged trees are now a hazard. We have hired our own arborist to establish these facts.

By law, the City is required to impose a two-year development moratorium on any property where a landmark tree has been removed. The City refused to follow that requirement and instead processed the developer's permit applications without investigating our code violation complaint. No code enforcement action was ever initiated. In fact, the developer is being rewarded with reduced setbacks and tree credits for supposedly retaining the two trees.

The City is allowing a massive building unlike anything we've seen before in South Rose Hill. In addition to our complaint about the illegal the tree removal, we raised many objections to the size, lot coverage, design, and placement of the proposed buildings. The main home is a three-story box, all above grade. This monstrosity dwarfs all existing homes in the area and features a second-story roof deck that destroys the backyard privacy of the surrounding properties. We believe the City's staff has arbitrarily and incorrectly interpreted the zoning code in service of developer profits.

These types of developments are not subdivisions, so there is no public notice or public comment period. We are asserting that the City is creatively misinterpreting code language to allow for much larger homes in low density residential neighborhoods. Disturbingly, the original intent of the very same code provisions were enacted to protect neighboring properties from large and intrusive new home construction!

We consistently voiced our concerns with city employees at every level in the Planning and Building Department. We met with City Councilmembers and other community stakeholders. Our attorney wrote a letter warning the City that the building permits should not be issued and would be subject to appeal and reversal. Unfortunately, all of our efforts got us nowhere. The City issued building permits in violation of multiple code sections.  

We are asking for your donation to advance our lawsuit against the City of Kirkland. The City has chosen to hire expensive outside legal counsel after refusing to forward our timely appeal to the Kirkland Hearing Examiner. It is clear to us they want to make this a long and expensive fight. The Hearing Examiner would have afforded both parties a relatively quick and inexpensive way to adjudicate our appeal. We are now in federal court asking for a preliminary injunction to stop construction.  

Why do we need your help? The City and developers know that the average Kirkland resident cannot fund a lawsuit to defend their property interests in court. In fact, they count it. Will you please join us? Many small donations will add up quickly. Our initial goal is to raise a $40,000. That amount will ensure we get our day in court.

We believe proving our case in court will benefit our entire community. First, it will compel City officials to act in the public's interest when there are future code violations, such as the illegal tree removal here. Second, it will limit the size of two- and three-unit developments to what is plainly stated in the zoning code.

By contributing to our legal fund, you can send a different type of message to the City! Our code violation complaints cannot be ignored when they are presented in court. They will be required to justify their actions and inactions. Please vote with your wallet to make that happen today. A donation of any amount will help. Then please pass this message along to a few like-minded people who will do the same. 

We have the facts on our side. The City needs to stop pandering to the interests of developers. Their duty is to protect the public interest, not the profits of developers.

Help us reach 1,000 people in ten days. An average donation of only $40 will meet our fundraising goal!

Are you sick and tired of the City's abject favoritism towards developers? Do you feel like your neighborhoods is being redeveloped with no consideration for the impact on existing residents and the natural environment? Then this is your fight too!  

You can donate here at FreeFunder using a credit or debit card. For other ways to donate, or to learn more about our legal challenge, please visit our website at www.ProtectKirklandTrees.com

Thank you,

[email protected]