Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan 19 December 2007 • Physical and Landscape Characteristics. It is important that the character enjoyed by these Sounds Residential areas is maintained or enhanced by all activities that take place within the area. The character referred to extends well beyond the ‘Sounds Residential’ areas to all the elements in the landscape surrounding them. 10.2.3.1 Objectives and Policies Objective 1 Maintenance and enhancement of the amenities and landscape character of residential environments. Policy 1.1 Protect the predominantly existing density and residential character of Urban Residential and Sounds Residential areas while avoiding, remedying and mitigating adverse effects within and beyond those areas. Policy 1.2 Enable new developments and activities within established Urban Residential and Sounds Residential areas provided their effects are not incompatible with the landscape character and local amenity qualities including: • Noise conditions; • Privacy; • Overall volumes of traffic movements; • Building bulk and density; and • Access to sunlight. Policy 1.3 Control the heights of buildings in Urban Residential and Sounds Residential areas in order to minimise shading of adjoining properties and to maximise opportunities for views to the sea and other important landscape features. Policy 1.4 Enable buildings within the Urban Residential Zone to be located within individual allotments at the discretion of the property developer; whilst ensuring that buildings located close to property boundaries do not shade adjoining properties or have intrusive height in relation to the property boundary. Policy 1.5 Seek to maintain a low-to-medium density of building coverage on sites and ensure opportunities for space for domestic storage and service areas and private outside space within individual sites in the Urban Residential Zone. Policy 1.6 Avoid, remedy and mitigate adverse effects of noise emissions in the residential environment. Policy 1.7 Seek to maximise opportunities for views from residential properties to the sea and other important landscape features. Policy 1.8 Require all proposed Urban Residential and Sounds Residential allotments to have sufficient area, shape, and access from a public road (where applicable) to accommodate a range of residential activities, including possible future uses. 10 - 12