5 March 2015 Chapter 11 Urban Environments developments will be ”purpose designed” for the particular development site and the immediate neighbourhood, in accordance with the principles of sustainable management, as defined by the Act. It is intended to impose similar performance standards for all development proposals within the urban and township residential areas to manage the effects of activities in a consistent way and to maintain residential character and scale, and local landscape quality. Where the nature, character, and effects of non-residential facilities and activities are compatible with the character of residential areas, there is no reason to prevent them establishing there. Changes in employment practices and advances in communications technology have contributed to the growing numbers of people seeking to conduct businesses based at their residence. Traditional examples of such home occupations include offices for professional services eg: architecture; medical practitioners and health services; hairdressers; telephone sales. Technological change may, in the future, make a much broader range of activities possible. Where these activities are able to be accommodated within the residential area without causing adverse effects or nuisance to surrounding residential activities there is no reason to prevent their establishment. Home occupations should not be permitted to develop to such a scale or intensity as would cause detriment to local residential character by giving rise to: • Excessive or unusual traffic volumes; • Excessive noise, dust, glare or odour; • Inappropriate location or appearance of advertising signs; • Inappropriate (out of character or large scale) alteration to buildings; and • Storage of goods, equipment, or vehicles within the site or on the street. The development of residential activities generally causes a demand for associated community facilities. These facilities include places of worship, educational establishments and places of assembly. Such facilities, while being of benefit to the community, can cause localised effects on neighbouring properties. For this reason, new community facilities within residential areas should be considered on their merits, as resource consent applications. Community facilities such as the Wairau Hospital are of regional importance. The hospital is in a residential neighbourhood, however it contributes to the existing amenity and quality of that environment. It is a significant resource (in land, buildings and infrastructure), the sustainable management of which must be provided for in the Plan. A range of health care services should be permitted as of right at the hospital while enabling appropriate alternative use of the site under changing health service provision. Objective 4 The maintenance and enhancement of the amenities and visual character of residential environments. Policy 4.1 Maintain and enhance the amenities and visual character of the ‘Urban Residential’ and ‘Township Residential’ areas, including the retention of the former Blenheim ‘Residential 1 Special Zone’ low density allotments, which are provided for in Appendix H1, Volume Two of this Plan. 11 - 7