Shoreline blocks removal of the Firlands Way giant sequoia; again
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Shoreline again blocked the removal of the Firlands Way giant sequoia for another six months despite objections from the owner who is trying to sell the property.
By Oliver J. Moffat
At the July 14 meeting, the Shoreline city council voted unanimously to renew a six-month, emergency ordinance blocking the removal of exceptionally girthsome trees in the Town Center (TC3 and TC4 zones).
The council previously blocked the removal of the Firlands Way giant sequoia earlier this year despite objections from the property’s owner.
The Town Center abuts Aurora and includes City Hall, the office building the city recently purchased, and the storage court north of City Hall the city purchased in 2020. It also includes the block of Firlands Way just north of 185th.
The emergency rule defines “exceptional” trees as trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than sixty inches. There aren’t a lot of very big trees in the Town Center.
There is a big Douglas Fir on the southwest corner of Stone Way N and N 180th St that might be larger than 60” DBH but everyone agrees the ordinance is targeting one tree: the Giant Sequoia at 18525 Firlands Way, which stands in the middle of the 1.126-acre parcel where the old Bank of America used to be.
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| The Firlands giant sequoia at 185th and Aurora stands over the old Bank of America property. Shoreline has twice passed emergency ordinances to block the removal of the tree (Oliver J Moffat) |
The Town Center abuts Aurora and includes City Hall, the office building the city recently purchased, and the storage court north of City Hall the city purchased in 2020. It also includes the block of Firlands Way just north of 185th.
The emergency rule defines “exceptional” trees as trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than sixty inches. There aren’t a lot of very big trees in the Town Center.
There is a big Douglas Fir on the southwest corner of Stone Way N and N 180th St that might be larger than 60” DBH but everyone agrees the ordinance is targeting one tree: the Giant Sequoia at 18525 Firlands Way, which stands in the middle of the 1.126-acre parcel where the old Bank of America used to be.
According to Save Shoreline Trees, the Firlands Way giant sequoia measured 72.8” DBH in 2023.
Councilmember Annette Ademasu co-sponsored the emergency ordinance and said,
Robert McCaughan, whose family has owned the Firlands property for generations, told the council earlier this year that the tree was required to be kept as landscaping when the bank was built in 1978.
A photo from the Shoreline Historical Museum’s website taken during the bank’s construction in 1978 appears to show the young sequoia.
Robert McCaughan, the property owner, said the tree causes property damage and is a hazard.
The temporary restrictions expire in six months, and the city must hold public hearings on the rules.
In an effort to spruce up its tree code, over the last year, the city council has changed tree removal fees three times, held public hearings, and has now banned the removal of the Firlands Way giant sequoia twice.
The city hired a consultant to undertake a holistic update to Shoreline’s tree regulations because they are confusing and inconsistent.
Councilmember Annette Ademasu co-sponsored the emergency ordinance and said,
“Here we are today in Shoreline trying to protect these elder trees. There aren’t too many of them. We know there's one in the TC3 and 4 zone. We're not sure how many there are.
"Are there five others in the city? We're not really sure. So I would just say I would like this one protected.”
Robert McCaughan, whose family has owned the Firlands property for generations, told the council earlier this year that the tree was required to be kept as landscaping when the bank was built in 1978.
A photo from the Shoreline Historical Museum’s website taken during the bank’s construction in 1978 appears to show the young sequoia.
And an aerial photo on King County’s website from 1936 shows that the site was a vacant lot. Together, that evidence would place the tree’s age at somewhere in the range of 50 to 90 years old.
It is not possible to definitively measure the age of a tree based solely on its height or the width of its trunk, but giant sequoias are (as their name suggests) legendary for growing fast, living long, and getting very, very big.
It is not possible to definitively measure the age of a tree based solely on its height or the width of its trunk, but giant sequoias are (as their name suggests) legendary for growing fast, living long, and getting very, very big.
The width of a giant sequoia trunk grows faster than other tree species, and its girth can increase by one to two inches every year.
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| Aerial photos compiled from the King County website from 1936 and 2023 show the location of the Firlands giant sequoia |
The tree is now damaging the pavement of the parking lot, and its copious needles clog the stormwater system.
McCaughan said he had offered to sell the property to the city, but the city declined.
McCaughan said he had offered to sell the property to the city, but the city declined.
Instead of purchasing the property and preserving the tree, the city has banned its removal.
The property is still for sale.
Councilmember Keith Scully acknowledged the ordinance was targeted at the single tree and said,
He expressed support for permanent protections,
Councilmember Keith Scully acknowledged the ordinance was targeted at the single tree and said,
“But one tree in this zone that is such a centerpiece for me, that's not even a close call because we've got to make our cities dense. We've also got to make them livable. Partly so that they are livable and partly so people want to live here.”
He expressed support for permanent protections,
“In the long term, we probably will be permanently protecting those very few remaining trees that are that big.”
The temporary restrictions expire in six months, and the city must hold public hearings on the rules.
In an effort to spruce up its tree code, over the last year, the city council has changed tree removal fees three times, held public hearings, and has now banned the removal of the Firlands Way giant sequoia twice.
The city hired a consultant to undertake a holistic update to Shoreline’s tree regulations because they are confusing and inconsistent.
Shoreline hired a consultant and will convene a Community Advisory Group (CAG) comprised of 10-12 members. Recruitment will begin in summer 2025 via an online application.
The CAG will hold up to seven meetings starting September 2025 for 7-8 months, informing the draft code. The new Tree Code is anticipated for adoption by spring 2026.
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11 comments:
Trees should increase property values.
I probably shouldn't be surprised by the hypocrisy from the council here: let's pretend that this one tree is of vital importance to the city, but let's greenlight the clearcutting of neighborhoods east of Aurora (see all the trees cut on 15th Ave NE just this week). And the advisory group is (as I'm sure was intended) way too late. That horse left the barn a long time ago. And then the barn was demolished and converted to townhomes.
So the tree isn't old or remarkable. Disappointed the council doesn't seem to consider the property owners concerns/history. They certainly lacked basic facts before acting on this "emergency" ordinance the first time and even now. The city should compensate the property owner or buy the property if they want this one tree preserved. This is basically just spot zoning this persons property.
Absolutely ridiculous that the city is controlling a property be cause of a tree. There are tree in the thousands here. This is a joke right?
City needs to be sued!!! Buy the land or let the owners sell it. Tyrants!!!
I am a consulting arborist and I measured the DBH of this tree in 2023. I found it to be in good condition both physiologically and structurally. With proper planning and careful follow through, this tree could be protected and preserved on the lot to be re-developed and remain on site in good condition for many years. Trees we can preserve are trees we don’t have to plant and get established.
John Hushagen
Seattle Arboricultural Associates
ISA Certified Arborist, PN-0108A
ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, (TRAQ)
The amount of time spent discussing this one tree is excessive. I'd rather see city council focusing on the general direction of the city, not getting tied up in individual cases like this.
One tree isn't going to make or break the city's arboreal aesthetic. Overarching plans like the tree code (private property) or establishing a street tree planting program (public property) will.
LFP is noticeably cooler and greener because of tree preservation.
This property owner should considered suing. Several suits have been brought over constitutional limitations, property rights, and need for clear justification. The property owners have won. Does limited gov't still have a place in Shoreline?
I feel for the owner, but I think this could be an opportunity for a win-win to be used as a future model - what kind of "paving" or parking lot material can be used around the tree rather than asphalt or cement to allow for the root structure of a large tree? What sorts of adaptations can be made to roofs or drain to prevent clogging from needles? We need to get past thinking that there is only one way to develop property - DSHS and Sound Transit think "old school" - it's up to smaller more nimble towns and locales to develop better/best practice. How is that big ol' cement barrier for the "rapid" bus coming along in LFP?
Would really love to see the city put in the same effort to protect douglas firs that are older but not as big. There are a couple of 100-year-old douglas firs on 175th that could still be saved, and personally I rank century-old trees over this non-native tree that's under a century old (although I still see the value in keeping it).
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