The highly contentious Tiffany Park neighborhood development Allura (also known as the Reserve) hit a major roadblock last week.

The city issued a stop work order to the developers — Henley Homes — after finding two protected trees were removed from the site located on the 3200 block of Southeast 18th Street.

According to officials from the Community and Economic Development Department, city staff conducted an inspection at the site on June 22 when they found two trees were cut without authorization. The next day city officials verified with the development engineering inspector the trees were not authorized to be removed, then followed up with a stop work order.

In order to lift the stop order, the developers will have to meet conditions set upon by the city, including paying a fine and replacing the two removed trees with 12 other trees. The city will decide on the types and locations of the trees at a later date. In addition, if the developers remove other protected trees once the stop work order is lifted, the city will revoke their permit and cease all construction.

“We went through a significant public process that resulted in the hearing examiner issuing the decision. We want to ensure that what was approved after significant input from the public is being adhered to,” said Chip Vincent, administrator for the city of Renton’s Community and Economic Development Department.

The Renton Reporter reached out to Henley Homes for a comment but did not receive a response in time for the press deadline.

The 21.6-acre wooded property located in Tiffany Park neighborhood was set for a 97-single-family residential lots.

Renton School District sold the land to the private home developer in 2014, causing an outcry from Tiffany Park neighborhood. Residents’s concerns varied from how the school district managed the sale of the property to the loss of the forested area.

In response to the concerns, the city required the developers to revise and resubmit an updated arborist report and tree retention plan to retain at least 30 percent of the trees onsite.

The city’s hearing examiner issued a final plat decision in 2015, which included 26 conditions of approval.

The developer was required to submit reports and studies, including a habitat data report, tree protection plan report, wetland assessment, and traffic study, in order to receive their permits.