A Holmes Beach couple fighting to save their elaborate beach-side tree house has launched a petition drive to bring the issue to a city wide vote.
According to the Islander newspaper, Richard Hazen and Lynn Tran have received permission from the City Commission to circulate a petition that would preserve the tree house, at 103 29th St. North. (For the full story, go to http://www.islander.org/2013/06/hb-petition-to-allow-tree-house-gains-momentum/)
Although the couple had verbal approval from the city to build the tree house in 2011, officials did not realize the size and scope of the structure the couple planned.
While the tree house has popular support and have given the couple a celebrity status, with a national appearance on the "Today" show, questions have been raised about the effects on sand dunes and nesting sea turtles. The dwelling is on the shoreline, where home construction is not permitted.
The petition itself will need 332 signatures or 10 percent of registered voters to sign it. It then will come back to the City Commission, which will have to vote on whether to allow for the citywide polling on the issue.
For more information on the treehouse, go to CoolTreeHouse.com.
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