SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle city officials are investigating after more than 150 trees were cut down on city-owned property.

The Seattle Times says the City Attorney's Office is leading the investigation into the clear-cutting, which occurred in the West Duwamish Greenbelt in the city's West Seattle neighborhood. A parks spokesman says the city did not issue permits for the tree cutting.

City urban forestry manager Jon Jainga says most of the felled trees were mature big leaf maples. He says the area is considered environmentally critical because of its steep slope and it's also part of a known landslide area.

Assistant City Attorney Joe Groshong says they're working to "determine an appropriate course of action."

The downed trees covered more than an acre of hillside, their stumps jutting through debris. Some stumps were a couple of feet in diameter.

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