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in corridors, corridor areas contain less sign clutter than other areas. To minimize sign clutter, <br />corridor -type sign regulations should be extended throughout the unincorporated county. <br />Within the county, another cause of visual clutter is temporary signs. Generally, temporary signs <br />are used to advertise political candidates, community events, real estate, and businesses and/or <br />services. Often, temporary signs violate county regulations relating to the location and purpose <br />of such signs. While many temporary signs are placed in public rights-of-way, others are located <br />on private property. To control the visual clutter created by temporary signs, the county should <br />establish limits on where temporary signs are to be allowed, on the number of temporary signs, <br />and on the duration that temporary signs may be posted. <br />Integration of Commercial and Residential Uses <br />Throughout the county, commercial projects and residential projects have been developed with <br />little regard to their integration. Generally, developers of residential projects that border <br />commercial zoning districts install fences and/or landscaping with berms to buffer the project <br />from the adjacent commercial uses. On the other hand, developers of commercial projects that <br />border residential zoning districts are required to provide buffering to protect the existing or <br />potential future adjacent residents. Consequently, vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle access is <br />most often provided to commercial and residential sites primarily along major roadways, with <br />limited or no access provided between adjacent commercial and residential uses. As a result, <br />commercial site design is focused on the major roadway that provides direct vehicular access to <br />the site, with dumpsters and loading docks most often placed in the rear of commercial buildings <br />in locations that face residential property. <br />This separation of commercial and residential uses is practiced nationally as well as locally and <br />is largely the product of zoning regulations that promote the separation of uses for compatibility <br />purposes. That separation of uses results in increased trip lengths, extra miles of driving, added <br />traffic on arterial roads, increased gasoline consumption, and added air pollution. Because of that <br />lack of commercial/residential interconnectivity, pedestrians and cyclists are forced to walk <br />and/or bike long distances through neighborhoods and then adjacent to busy roadways. These <br />longer distances can ultimately discourage people from walking and biking between residential <br />and commercial destinations. Because of those negative impacts, there is a need for the mixing <br />of commercial and residential uses. <br />➢ Opposition to Integration of Commercial and Residential Uses <br />Usually, the lack of integration between residential and commercial sites is due to neighborhood <br />concerns and opposition. Because of concerns related to perceived threats such as cut -through <br />traffic, increased crime, and reduced property values, adjacent residents often oppose the <br />connection of commercial sites to residential areas. Opposing residents often conclude that the <br />perceived threats outweigh the positive impacts of conveniently accessible commercial <br />opportunities and services. <br />Future Land Use Element 101 <br />