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Commercial, industrial or retail developments can act to cushion
the effects of highway traffic noise on adjacent buildings that
may be used for activities sensitive to noise. Municipalities can
implement zoning, other control ordinances, or financial incentives
to encourage land uses that are more compatible with noise from
roadways. Vegetation between commercial, industrial, or retail land
uses can serve as a visual buffer.
Commercial uses can include office space or consumer-oriented retail,
as found in many locations in Houston and Kansas City. This strategy
is particularly valuable when applied before roadway construction.
When communities can plan or anticipate roadways, they gain greater
benefits from exercising control over land use. The reason is simple.
They can ensure that transportation and commercial growth conforms
with local goals -- all while minimizing the effects of highway
traffic noise.
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Highway noise does not pose a problem for many retail establishments.
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