Land Use & Zoning

What is a 'buffer zone' in Pennsylvania land use planning?

AThe minimum cash reserve a developer must maintain in escrow during construction
BA transitional area of land use or landscaping placed between incompatible uses — such as industrial and residential — to reduce conflicts✓ Correct
CThe setback distance required between a property line and any building structure
DA Pennsylvania law prohibiting commercial development within one mile of a school

Explanation

A buffer zone is a transitional strip of land, often landscaped or naturally vegetated, placed between incompatible land uses to reduce conflicts — noise, light, odors, traffic — between adjacent zones. Pennsylvania municipalities commonly require buffer yards between industrial or commercial zones and adjacent residential areas, or between high-density and low-density residential developments.

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