What is the primary purpose of buffer zones in zoning and land-use planning?

• A. Areas separating incompatible land uses to reduce conflict.
• B. Zones reserved for future highway construction.
• C. Areas that maximize land value by enclosing residential areas.
• D. Zones that exempt all environmental protections.

Answer: (A)

Buffer zones are strips of land placed between different land uses to keep incompatible activities apart and reduce conflicts such as noise, pollution, glare, and safety hazards. By providing physical separation, they help protect nearby homes and businesses while allowing development to proceed in a more flexible way. Vegetation or screening within these buffers can also reduce visual impact and absorb some sound, sometimes offering ecological benefits as well. They’re not meant for reserving space for future highways, nor to enclose residential areas to boost land value, and they certainly don’t imply exempting environmental protections—the buffers themselves often support mitigation and protection efforts.