Council

That the minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held on December 9, 2024 be adopted.

That the minutes of the Special Meeting of Council held on December 13, 2024 be adopted.

That the report dated January 20, 2025 containing Items of Correspondence be received for information.

That the Community Affairs & Planning Committee Report dated January 6, 2025 be adopted.

That the General Government Committee Report dated January 13, 2025, be adopted.

That the Summary of Advisory Committee Activities Report dated January 20, 2025, as attached to the meeting agenda be received for information, and that the recommendations contained therein be

That the Regional Councillors’ Reports of January 20, 2025 be received for information.

WHEREAS Canada is facing a housing crisis and a rise of short-term rental (STR) properties can have an impact on the availability of long-term rental housing options; AND WHEREAS the Town of Ajax is a committed and recognized leading partner in Canada and Ontario’s efforts to defeat the housing crisis; AND WHEREAS the federal government has introduced the Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund to ensure that STR operators are given clear rules which balance the needs of the broader community and the realities of the sharing economy; AND WHEREAS Town of Ajax staff are undertaking a comprehensive review of the existing Ajax Zoning By-law 95-2003 in order to update zoning permissions and standards to align with the Ajax Official Plan; AND WHEREAS on October 21, 2024, as part of the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Review, Ajax Council directed staff to define a STR in the Final Zoning By-Law Amendment(s), that STRs be defined, and that staff update the definition of a Bed and Breakfast Establishment to make clear the separation in uses, with an overview of the changes brought forward for consideration at a future meeting of the Community Affairs and Planning Committee; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. Planning and Development permit short-term rentals in all urban residential zones, where appropriate, through the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Review; 2. Corporate Services work with short-term rental platforms to receive data related to short-term rentals in Ajax, establish a condition

WHEREAS as urban municipalities in Ontario approve more high-rise developments, the educational needs of children living in these developments requires consideration. AND WHEREAS Ajax has a fixed urban boundary and many of the new development proposals being received by the Town are for multi-story, high density projects. AND WHEREAS projects proposed by developers in Ajax over the past year may see as many as 3,727 dwelling units on a single site. AND WHEREAS primary and secondary schools could be included in the podiums of high-rise buildings, providing easy access to children within the development and in the surrounding built-up area. AND WHEREAS it is important that consideration for a new school in the podium of a tower be contemplated in the early stages of design and approval. AND WHEREAS through the Provincial Planning Statement, the Province encourages planning authorities in collaboration with school boards to encourage innovative approaches in the design of schools and childcare facilities. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. Ajax Council calls on the provincial government to require developers to work closely with local school boards in the early stages of developments with high density to assess education needs and where applicable, include schools in the design of the podium; 2. Ajax Council calls on local school boards, including the Durham District School Board, Durham Catholic District School Board, Conseil Scolaire Viamonde and MonAvenir Conseil Scolaire

WHEREAS municipalities face growing infrastructure needs, including roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and other critical services, which are essential to community well-being and economic development; AND WHEREAS the current sources of municipal revenue, including property taxes and user fees, are insufficient to meet these increasing demands for infrastructure investment; AND WHEREAS the Province of Ontario currently collects the Land Transfer Tax (LTT) on property transactions in municipalities across the province, generating significant revenue that is not directly shared with municipalities; Town of Ajax Council Meeting – January 20, 2025 AND WHEREAS the Federal Government collects the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on property transactions, a portion of which could be directed to municipalities to address local infrastructure needs; AND WHEREAS redistributing a portion of the LTT and GST to municipalities would provide a predictable and sustainable source of funding for local infrastructure projects without creating a new tax burden on residents or homebuyers; AND WHEREAS a redistribution of a portion of the existing LTT and GST would allow municipalities to better plan and invest in long-term infrastructure initiatives, supporting local economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents; AND WHEREAS on November 27, 2024, Durham Regional Council passed a resolution requesting the Federal and Provincial governments redistribute a portion of the LTT

That By-law numbers 01-2025 to 09-2025 be read a first, second and third time and passed.

That the January 20, 2025 meeting of the Council of the Town of Ajax be adjourned (3:29 p.m.)

That By-law number 10-2025 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Ajax at its regular meeting held on January 20, 2025, be read a first, second and third time and passed.