North Bend residents can comment on an emergency moratorium on single-family homes within several commercial zones at a public hearing, set for the next meeting of the North Bend City Council, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Mount Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S. North Bend.

The interim moratorium was enacted by the council Nov. 1, to prevent permit approvals and acceptance of permit applications for homes within the the following commercial zones:

Neighborhood Business, mainly along the northeast side of North Bend Way, between Thrasher Avenue Northeast and Southeast Mount Si Road, plus areas adjacent to 455th Avenue Southeast and a wedge bordered by Southeast Tanner Road and 436th Avenue Southeast;

Interchange Mixed Use, along the southeast side of Bendigo Boulevard near the I-90 interchange, bordered by South Fork Avenue Southwest, and a stretch along Southwest Ribary Way where it connects with Bendigo; and an unspecified Special Districts area.

According to a city press release, the moratorium does not affect permits or approvals for a single building permit to construct one single-family dwelling and any permitted associated accessory dwelling units on a single existing lot or currently vested development projects.

This moratorium is intended to give the city council more time to review whether the development regulations in the cited commercial zones are compatible with the allowed commercial uses in the area and accurately reflect the community’s vision of protecting North Bend’s rural character, natural beauty and small town scale.

The public and any property owners affected by this moratorium are strongly encouraged to attend the public hearing Dec. 6, as well as subsequent meetings of the City Council and Planning Commission on this moratorium.

For questions regarding the moratorium and future planning efforts, contact Community & Economic Development Department Office Coordinator Tom Meagher at tmeagher@northbendwa.gov or call (435) 888-7641.