The regional planning agency Metro has filed a $661,000 lawsuit against two Gresham couples -- claiming that they brazenly cut down 44 trees in a protected natural area next to their homes in order to create even better views of the city below.

The couples mowed down a 400-foot swath of mostly "large and mature trees" below their homes, which are perched side by side on Gresham Butte above the Springwater Corridor Trail, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

"The cut clearing substantially enhanced the view west from (the homeowners') property, over and across (Metro's) property towards the city and natural landscape, including the scenic valleys and buttes that characterize east Multnomah County," states the suit.

The suit claims that the enhanced views increased David El-Khal's and Alyce Hadeed El-Khal's home value by more than $79,000. The real estate website Redfin estimates the couple's seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom home is worth about $1 million.

The suit claims that the elimination of trees obstructing the views increased the value of Stephen and Judith Brugh's home by at least $39,000. Redfin estimates the couple's three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home is worth about $493,000.

David El-Khal on Tuesday declined comment, saying his attorney said it's too early in the case to do so. Reached Monday, Stephen Brugh also declined comment for this report.

A Metro spokeswoman said she couldn't share more details about the case, citing the pending litigation.

It's unclear how Metro found out about the downed trees because the El-Khals and the Brughs live down a private drive, and the area downhill from their homes apparently isn't accessible from any walking trails. According to the suit, the trees were removed in spring and late summer 2015.

The suit states that Metro used voter-approved bond money to buy the Chastain Creek Natural Area to preserve open spaces, natural areas and water quality. The suit states that the cut trees will need to be replaced for hillside stability.

The lawsuit also claims that the El-Khals have encroached on Metro's property by building parts of their fence on Metro land, placing drainage pipes for surface-water runoff onto Metro land and discarding several 5-gallon containers of wood sealant, "household waste and yard clippings" onto Metro land. The suit contends that the wood sealant "is toxic to fish and wildlife."

Metro has estimated the loss of trees and other land damage at $176,900, but is seeking three times that, or $530,700, under Oregon's timber trespass law. Under that scenario, the regional government would have to prove that the homeowners cut down the trees knowing that they weren't on their land.

The suit also seeks to recover the amounts by which the home values improved and other costs, such as hiring an arborist to tally the damage.

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-- Aimee Green

503-294-5119