An elaborate, three-story tree house in Orange County has gotten a temporary reprieve from building inspectors, but the high rise hide-out may not be out of the woods just yet.
Rossmoor resident Dr. Joni Doherty spared no expense to build the $16,000 tree house that features solar panels, redwood floors, handmade chairs and a top-floor club house.
The tree house was a dream she and her husband Jack Chen — a renowned surgeon — shared before he died in a surfing accident in 2013.
Her two sons wanted their father's memory to live on in the tree house.
Doherty didn't need a permit to build it. But six months ago, she received a letter from the Orange County Department of Public Works for code violations after a neighbor complained.
"They didn't actually have any specific safety issues in that code violation," Doherty said.
She is now applying for a permit and has support from hundreds of her neighbors, who have signed a petition.
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"It's a labor of love," said her neighbor, Reina Evans. "Everyone loves this tree house."
Doherty is hopeful and believes her husband is helping her keep their dream alive.
"I feel like he's actually in some way helped this sort of get to the point where it might actually work out, like a miracle," she said.
The next step will be a public hearing, which could take place in several months, she said. But until then, she's been reassured from a county supervisor the tree house will remain in place.
