Volume One 12. Urban Environments [D] Objective 12.5 – A range of opportunities for different business and industrial activities are available. To ensure business and industrial activities occur in a planned and coordinated manner and that the future needs of people and communities are met, it is necessary to recognise the various characteristics and attributes of Marlborough’s towns within the urban environment. Consolidating the area within which these activities take place will reinforce the communities’ perception of the character and form of their towns and identity. Importantly the objective provides a focus for establishing a wide range of opportunities for business and industrial activity that will result in wide social and economic benefits for the District, therefore helping to achieve the purpose of the RMA. [D] Policy 12.5.1 – Maintain the following characteristics within the central business areas of Blenheim, Renwick, Picton and Havelock: (a) the core of the urban town, usually anchored around a ‘main street’ of retail and premier business; (b) a wide variety of activities, including retail shops, professional and administrative offices, civic and community facilities, emergency service activities, personal and household services, entertainment, restaurants, bars and public open space; (c) the function of the town in serving the needs of residents and visitors; (d) higher density living within or in close proximity to town centres; (e) flexibility in allotment sizes to cater for a wide range of business activities; (f) provision of public parking; (g) apartments above businesses; (h) car-orientated areas, with roads allowing traffic to flow through and around the town centre; and (i) considerable public and private investment in the form of roading, car parking, street lighting, street furniture, open space and other infrastructure. The Business 1 Zone has been applied to four of the larger towns in Marlborough. The characteristics applied in this policy reflect the essential nature of the business centres of these towns, although not all of the characteristics are evident in every town. For example, in Blenheim and Picton (the two larger centres) a wider range of business activities occurs. Within these towns there are likely to be apartments over business and considerable public investment in infrastructure, whereas in the smaller towns some of these characteristics may not be so evident. Notwithstanding this, the Business 1 Zone has been applied to these towns through this policy, so these business centres remain as a focal point for retail, commercial, cultural and/or social activity. [D] Policy 12.5.2 – Maintain the following characteristics within the suburban areas of Blenheim and Picton: (a) localised shopping and service functions, typically meeting the day-to-day needs of the surrounding residential areas; (b) a decentralised commercial resource distinct from the Business 1 Zone; and (c) good exposure to passing motorists. This policy describes the smaller business areas that service the local community but are located away from the Business 1 Zone in Picton and Blenheim. These business areas are valued as 12 – 15