I might also suggest compacting all the housing wards into a single ward. Change the zones to be more walled off and instance individual FC homes to be their own plot with a marketboard and bell. Keep the nice views of each house best you can. You have environmental design artists, have them sort it out - it's what they're paid for.

My suggestion to them? Move things around, give houses front lawns with conveniently placed hedges and walls so you can see there is a house there, but you need to go through the gate to see the actual house - i.e. move into the instance.