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By Roslyn Anderson
roslyn@wlbt.net

Five years ago Scott Welch began building an elaborate tree house in his front yard in Clinton.  It was to be the perfect playhouse for his four children.  Now the city says it must go.  But the Welches say, not without a fight.

Seven year old Rachael Furlough says, "I slide, I swing.  It's too much fun."

She is one of dozens of children who flock to the Welch family playhouse. Builder Scott Welch says,"When we bought this house we looked at these trees and said this is just a wonderful place to build a tree house."

Clinton's Planning and Zoning Department has ordered Scott and Mary Welch to tear down the two story Victorian style tree house.  It says it violates city codes.  But the Welches say they were told they did not need a permit when they spent more than two years and $4,000 building their children's dream playhouse in the front yard.

Mary Welch says, "Inspectors from the city walked right by our tree house and said 'Hey that's a nice tree house' and never told us it did not belong in the front yard."

Wednesday the city posted a sign in the yard informing the family of a hearing to decide the fate of their beloved tree house.

Scott Welch says, "Our neighbors encouraged us to fight this and they love it and what it has done is brought the community closer together and our neighbors closer together."

50 out of 54 neighbors have signed a petition and several hundred residents have stopped by to sign a citywide petition. Seven year old Shelby Welch is in on the act designing a t-shirt that says 'Kids at play keep it that way.'

Clinton mayor Rosemary Aultman says its about neighborhood integrity and enforcing city codes.  Mayor Aultman says, "The old zoning regulation and subdivision regulations did not allow a structure like this in the front yard either so it was illegal then and it's illegal now."

Brook Furlough's children play here daily.  She says, "This is a neighborhood our kids can walk to.  They love to come down here.  If it's gone I don't know what we're gonna do."

Paul Jacobs lives the next street over and feels it's unfair to make the family tear the tree house down.  Jacobs says, "To me it doesn't detract in any way and I have never seen a more attractive tree house."

Clyde Stegall has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and drove his wife by to see Scott Welch's creation.  He says, "We're behind these people 100% and there's an election coming up."

The Welches have established a web site to garner support. You can log on at www.saveourtreehouse.com . Their hearing date is set for July 23rd at 7 p.m.