The city of Mountlake Terrace allows nothing unless it fits someone elses idea of what should be in our city even though they don't live here. I like our small town quality and would like to keep it that way. Let the kids have their pirate ship. Seems like a very well built ship to me.
S.A. Malloy
Long time resident.

Yes, since the neighbors are all for it, the man ought to be allowed to build the treehouse for the local kids. The city has gone too far this time.

Decisions about how to use private property should, in a free society, belong soley to the owner of the private property. The pirate ship is being built on private property, not property owned by the city of Mountlake Terrace.

If none of this man's neighbors has personally asked him not to build the pirate ship, then what is the problem? Who is hurt? Whose rights are violated by somebody using their own property as they see fit? Government at all levels needs to stop trampling on property rights. Let the kids have their pirate ship.

Cities are there to serve us - not boss us around - to protect and preserve our liberties, not to take them away, or place unreasonable limits on them. It is private property and the ship is harming no one. The city should stay out of it.

I have neighbors who put up gawdy yard displays every Christmas with so many lights you can see them from space. I think they are ugly and crude. And I defend my neighbors' right to do it every year, and would never think to ask them to tone it down a bit. Why? Because my neighbors have a personality and deserve to be able to express it.

If you want to tell me what I can do with my property, you can start helping out with the mortgage payment.

I think he should be able to keep building his tree house i mean really his 6 year old will be crushed just like he said.If you had or have a kid you really like.You would know! seriously let him build the freeking tree house its not like planes fly a foot over his house no one is using the space just let him use it.

The "Pirate Ship" shown on TV is no kid's playhouse, it's a second two-story house, completely out of code that the homeowner disregarded it's legality. Building codes were created to protect the public. Just because a person has a home on a lot doesn't mean he can "do whatever he wants on his own property" and ignore building codes etc.then use the excuse he's "paid over $5,000" as if that justifies breaking the law. It needs to come down and be made size/setback appropriate for a child's playhouse that is usually smaller than a gazebo.

I have kids of my own, so I understand how the kids would be disappointed. I also agree with some of the other points made such as it's not hurting anyone and the neighbors are for it.
But I do agree with the city. This man didn't do his homework first, and just because he spent $5,000 that shouldn't be the excuse to disregard the law.
The city has made codes for reasons. Just because I own a property, doesn't mean I can do anything I want. If the city is to allow this, then it would open the floodgates of others saying "he could do this, why can't I".
If this guy did some womework, perhaps he could have found a way to build it, such as on railroad ties, which would not be considered a permament stucture, if it could be moved. It's his own fault for not getting permits for such a stucture.

so we have the grinch that wants to steal a treehouse and the powers that be want to be his assistants. The treehouse soounds like good clean
fun to me for all the neighborhood kids, maybe the grinch would rather have the kids buying dope instead.

Who is the parent kidding? A treehouse?
Raising kids includes keeping an eye on them as much as possible. I wonder how this parent will feel when his kids become teenagers with the availability of a very private pirate ship?

Hey it is for the kids come on. Some people are not happy unless they are complaining bout something. As for the holiday yard display's I agree some make them TOOOOOOO big but no one gripes,complains bout them. LET THE KIDS HAVE FUN Gessh they all grow up fast enough let them have a few years of fun..

It is wonderful! A great place for neighborhood kids to gather - better than hanging around the local quick market. The City of MountLake Terrace is collectively brain dead to stop this project.

I think, that, since the neighbors are in agreement, that he should be allowed to complete the tree house for his kid and his friends. It sounds like it would be an excellent play area for them and would keep them off the streets and out of trouble! The parents would always know where the child and his friends were at! Meri

I live directly across the street from Mr. Chase. I watched the construction of the "pirate ship". Tony told us well before the construction started what he was going to do, so this was no suprise. The "pirate ship" is no large, ramshackle apartment, it is a tree house for his son and the neighbor kids to play in.When I was a boy growing up in that neighborhood there were treehouses built and no one made a fuss of it,so why are they doing so now? Thank you, Robert Reedy.

It seems to me that the city is playing gestapo here. Our property and privacy rights are slipping away from us rapidly. Tell the city to go to hell! Also; find out if any city officials have a tree house in their yard. It would certainly help your case against them.

Those who oppose this treehouse, are probably jealous, either because they never had one while growing up, or because they are unable to to build their own for their kids. The city has NO RIGHTS to tell a private citizen what he can or can't do on his private property. I would support a citizen revolt and law suits against the city, if they don't back off! It keeps these kids out of trouble, and the neighborhood parents are all in agreement that it's a great place for the kids to play. Would the city prefer the kids play in the street and get hit by a car? Get grip people!