Merit Homes, Inc.

Merit homes is purchasing larger lots in my neighborhood, tearing out the existing homes, subdividing the lots, and building multiple homes on each lot. I purchased a home from Merit in 2010 without knowledge of the damage that this process is doing to the community. The lot behind my home had many old growth trees which lined my back fence. Half of each of these huge trees hung into my yard. Those trees were the reason I bought the lot that I did and I had a clear interest in them that I expressed. In December 2013 I received news from a neighbor that that lot behind me was being sold to Merit Homes. I sent a congratulatory email to the principal owners of Merit Homes, Greg Griffis and Josh Lysen, and I asked that they please discuss the trees with me before proceeding with their project. I expressed my interest in keeping the trees and explained that I hoped we could find a compromise where everyone could be happy. I hoped to find a way to save the trees while not infringing on their building or profits. If that was not possible, I would have liked to have had time to change the landscaping in my yard in accordance with the removal of the trees. I did not receive ANY response. I came home on June 8th to find four very large trees laying cut down in the lot, one of which had hung 20 feet over the fence onto my property. Merit homes never gave me the courtesy of any notification despite my very clear request for simple communication. I submitted a complaint for city code enforcement investigation then emailed Merit homes again to inform them of this. They told me that they did not communicate plans with me because 1) my email was too early, 2) they did not have building plans designed or approved yet, and 3) I should blame the voters for the Growth Management Act forcing concentrated growth. This response is unsatisfactory because 1) at some point before the tree removal it would not have been too early to communicate with me, 2) they should not be preemptively cutting down Old Growth trees without even having approval to build (no matter if they are allowed to or not, it isn’t the responsible thing to do), and 3) they cannot blame the voters for their own lack of giving their previous customers any courtesy of a simple response or notification. My experience with Merit homes has shown a lack of respect for customers and irresponsibly with removal of our old growth trees.