Volume One 12. Urban Environments (iv) any adverse effects from noise, vehicle movements and on-street parking supply can be avoided or, if avoidance is not possible, adequately mitigated. The business zones within Marlborough’s towns provide the main focus of economic and community activity in the urban context. Inappropriate location of business activities or the fragmentation of business areas can result in loss of vitality, convenience, accessibility and identity of such areas. While some provision has been made for business activities in Urban Residential Zones, this is limited to ensure that the fragmentation of Business Zones does not occur. The policy therefore describes the circumstances where it may be appropriate to locate business activities within Urban Residential Zones, while ensuring the potential effects of the proposed activity on both the residential environment and the viability of business zones are considered. Of significance here is the connection between this policy and the retail hierarchy described in Policy 12.4.4 that identifies an order of location preferences for business and retail activities. In recognition of the different nature of business activity in the smaller towns of the District, more flexibility is provided to enable such activities can occur, provided the circumstances described can be met. [D] Policy 12.3.4 – Avoid industrial and rural activities (other than those expressly provided for), sport and recreation activities that involve motor vehicles and any other activities not compatible with the character and amenity of Urban Residential Zones. Similar to the previous policy regarding business activities being located within Urban Residential Zones, this policy directs that location of a range of other activities should also be avoided. This is because these activities (industrial, rural and motor sport activities) are likely to have significant adverse effects on the character and amenity of Marlborough’s Urban Residential Zones. These effects may include increased traffic generation (including heavy traffic), noise, odour, dust and visual detraction from the characteristics normally expected in residential environments. In addition, specific zones have been set for these activities where they are may be more appropriately located. [D] Policy 12.3.5 – Where an activity is proposed that is non-residential in character and is not otherwise provided for, resource consent will be required and the following matters must be determined by decision makers in assessing the adverse effects on residential activities before any assessment of other effects is undertaken: (a) the extent to which the activity is related to residential activities occurring at the site; (b) the functional need for the activity to be located within a residential zone and why it is not more appropriately located within another zone; (c) whether the proposed activity will result in a loss of land with residential potential and the extent of this loss when considered in combination with other non-residential based activities; and (d) the extent to which the proposed activity will have an adverse effect on the residential environment. Residential zones within Marlborough’s towns have been specifically established to accommodate residential activity. This recognises that the majority of residents live in the urban environment. It is therefore important that these areas are predominantly used for the residential activity. Where non-residential activities (especially those carried out within an existing dwelling) will have limited impact on the characteristics of the four residential zones these have been provided for as a permitted activity. However, other non-residential uses not provided will be assessed through the resource consent process to determine their impact on the characteristics of the residential environment in which they are to be located. 12 – 11