Kern County General Plan - Chapter 1, Land Use - County of Kern

3. The development of specialized clusters of related and mutually supportive
commercial activities will be encouraged and supported in appropriate locations by
means of the Zoning Ordinance and Specific Plans.
4. Prior to approval, all new discretionary commercial projects located in the Airport
Influence areas will be compatible with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.
5. Regional Commercial may be sited in urban areas with adequate infrastructure and
should consist of at least 20 acres.
6. Linear commercial development of shallow depth, lacking demonstrated demand,
will be discouraged along streets or highways when it can be shown that it impairs
the traffic-carrying functions of the highways, it detracts from the aesthetic
enjoyment of the surroundings, or if it can be demonstrated that equally effective
services can be provided in an alternative configuration.
7. The development of Highway Commercial (Map Code 6.3) shall demonstrate
adequate infrastructure.
8. All commercial development equal to or greater than 40 acres in a rural area will
require the adoption of a Specific Plan prior to development approval.
9. For other policies and implementation measures, see General Provisions,
Section 1.10 of this General Plan.
IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES: COMMERCIAL
A. Review and amend the necessary commercial districts of the Zoning Ordinance to
distinguish clearly between the different types of functions, intensities of activities,
and site requirements of the commercial designations in the General Plan.
B. Evaluation of applications for any General or Specific Plan Amendment to
commercial designation will include sufficient data for review of new commercial
development proposals consistent with General Plan policies, using the following
criteria and guidelines on:
i. Location suitability with respect to market area demand.
ii. Provision of adequate ingress and egress and the mitigation of traffic
impacts.
iii. Provision of adequate water, sewer, and other public services to be used.
iv. Provision of adequate on-site nonpublic water supply and sewage disposal,
if no public systems are available or used.
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