RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Developers clearing a popular plot of woods in Washington are back to work after the city of Renton forced them to stop and pay fines for cutting two protected trees.

KING-TV reported (http://kng5.tv/2ssoOYy ) Friday that more than a thousand trees have been cut to clear the way for about 90 new homes, but in the process, developer Henley Homes illegally cut two protected trees.

The protected trees were big leaf maples. The developer paid $100 per tree. They will also have to plant 12 new trees on the project site.

Homeowners in the area have been against the woods being torn down.

Resident Bill Roenicke moved into the area during the 1980's and says there has been little change until now.

He says the woods were a great spot for kids to explore nature.

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Information from: KING-TV, http://www.king5.com/