The first of two scheduled community meetings will be held from 5-8 p.m.Wednesday at the Tyee Middle School located at 13630 S.E. Allen Road. The second community meeting is slated for Nov. 15 from 5-8 p.m. at the Overlake Presbyterian Church located at 1826 156th Ave. N.E.

Among the challenges facing the city are a serious lack of affordable housing, an onslaught of downtown development, traffic congestion and the impact of the Endangered Species Act. Since city officials last completed an overhaul of its comprehensive plan in 1993, Bellevue has seen a significant increase in traffic congestion through its downtown corridor by commuters looking to avoid congested freeways. The city has also seen home prices skyrocket 55 percent from 1990 to 1999 and has faced development challenges as the result of the Chinook salmon being placed on the endangered species list.

The city's new comprehensive plan, which city officials hope to have completed by summer 2002, is expected to look at these issues, as well as at Bellevue's downtown development and the focus of locating more housing downtown to cut down on traffic.