Karen Roberts

The Journal News

What’s our favorite Rockland County superstar singer been up to?

She's trying to get her dream treehouse built, but planning issues have been in the way.

Make that treehouses.

Grace VanderWaal, the 13-year-old singer and ukulele player, wants to build two backyard treehouses at her family's home, but her plans must be approved by the village of Wesley Hills. The village Planning Board signed off on the proposal Wednesday night.

GRACE: Performs at Ramapo High School

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VanderWaal, who found instant fame after winning the $1 million grand prize on "America's Got Talent" in 2016, is finishing up her school year and hoping to get the treehouses built by this summer.

Since her win, VanderWaal — who AGT judge Simon Cowell compared to singer Taylor Swift — landed a record deal with Cowell's Syco label. She's also made the Top 10 for iTunes music, reaching No. 6 on the charts for "Perfectly Imperfect," featuring the showstopper, "I Don't Know My Name."

Her parents agreed she could built a treehouse to celebrate her success.

The application for the project was submitted on April 17. At a Planning Board meeting on April 26, board members asked for additional information, according to the mayor.

"The whole reason they are before the Planning Board is because there’s a wetlands law," said Mayor Marshall Katz. "The board wants to make sure whatever they are doing adjacent to the wetlands won’t disturb the wetlands."

He says the village has been accommodating to the VanderWaals.

"The village has bent over backwards to smooth out the process and get them through their approval process," says Katz.

The Planning Board held a special meeting on May 8 to review the requested planning materials. At that meeting, additional concerns were raised.

"The issue is the wetlands (the project) is in the buffer (area) and one of the trees was not the best of the trees," said Katz.

The proposed project includes two separate treehouses supported across five trees. The work is being done by Treehouse Masters.

The larger house would measure 15- by 10 feet and would be wired for electricity. It would have a small refrigerator and an outhouse with a composting toilet. The second treehouse would be 10- by 10 feet, also with electricity.

The treehouses would have separate spiral staircases.

Twitter: @krhudsonvalley