The Bellevue Planning Commission today will consider whether to support new regulations designed to limit the impacts of large new homes in existing neighborhoods. City staff will host an open house at City Hall about the regulations before the meeting.

The open house is set for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 1E-109 in City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E. The Planning Commission meeting will be in the Council Chambers, starting at 6:30.

As part of the city’s Neighborhood Character initiative, the commission will discuss options for addressing some neighbors’ concerns about loss of sunlight and privacy when homes are torn down and replaced by very large homes, which critics often call “megahomes.”

Among the options to be discussed in the commission meeting are:

Floor Area Ratio – should the size of the single-family home be in proportion to the size of the lot?

Side setbacks – should very large homes be set back farther from adjacent homes?

Daylight plane and/or second story step-back – should the second floors of very large houses be constructed in a way that preserves neighboring homes’ access to sunlight?

The proposals – discussed in previous commission meetings – include regulations affecting tree preservation in subdivisions, the placement of mechanical equipment on single-family lots, construction hours for remodels and additions, and maintenance of vacated houses and abandoned building sites.

Recommendations made by the Planning Commission tonight will be presented to the City Council later this summer.

For more information on the Neighborhood Character initiative, phases one and two, contact Neighborhood Outreach, 425-452-6836.