Council

That the Rules of Procedure be waived to add a Notice of Motion – 9.3 Temporary Opening of the Ashbury Boulevard and Range Road Link.

That the minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held on April 15, 2024 be adopted.

1. That Zoning By-law Amendment Application Z2/24 be approved and that the implementing Zoning By-law, as provided in Attachment 1 to this report, be considered for approval by Council at its meeting on May 21, 2024.

1. That Zoning By-law Amendment Application Z1/24 be approved and that the implementing Zoning By-law, as provided in Attachment 1 to this report, be considered for approval by Council at its meeting of May 21, 2024.

That the balance of the report (Items 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10 and 6.11) dated May 21, 2024 containing Items of Correspondence be received for information.

That Item 6.2 (“The Regional Municipality of Durham – Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee Resolution re: Stormwater Management Fees”) of the Correspondence Report be received for information.

That the General Government Committee Report dated May 13, 2024 be adopted.

That the Summary of Advisory Committee Activities Report dated May 21, 2024, as attached to the meeting agenda be received for information, and that the recommendations contained therein be

1. That the Library Services 2024 Spring Update be received for information.

That the Regional Councillors’ Reports of May 21, 2024 be received for information.

WHEREAS Operation White Heart is an awareness project focused on promoting conversations about mental health and suicide, utilizing basic landscaping supplies like mulch and white stones to create a white heart; AND WHEREAS more than 500 hearts have been installed across Saint John, New Brunswick and the surrounding area since Gary Brown founded Operation White Heart in 2021, including a 16-foot heart at the Giant Steps Wellness Park; AND WHEREAS according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness; AND WHEREAS the Town of Ajax can show support of individuals who are experiencing a mental health problem or illness and those who have

Town of Ajax Council Meeting – May 21, 2024 WHEREAS the provincial government announced the Building Faster Fund (BFF) in August 2023 to provide up to $1.2 billion over three years to help qualifying municipalities pay for critical housing and community-enabling infrastructure to accommodate growth; AND WHEREAS the Town of Ajax was issued a target of 1,247 housing unit starts in the 2023 BFF Program Year, and 17,000 new housing units by 2031; AND WHEREAS Ajax Council has taken bold steps to encourage the development of new homes, from the introduction of five unanswered Minister’s Zoning Order and Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator applications, to new policy direction to allow four residential units as of right and increasing allowable building heights along transit corridors; AND WHEREAS according to staff report PDS-2024-10, Ajax Housing Pledge 2023 Progress Report, Ajax had 1,121 Housing Starts in 2023; AND WHEREAS this accounts for 90% of the Town’s 2023 target and would qualify Ajax to receive approximately $4-million under the BFF; AND WHEREAS on February 14, 2024, the Town received a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), Paul Calandra, stating that, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) data, the Town had only reached 64% of its target and therefore had not qualified to receive funds; AND WHEREAS despite outreach from the Town to identify missing data, the CMHC will not revise past data and MMAH will not

WHEREAS Range Rd. from Ashbury Blvd. to Lake Ridge Rd. was reconstructed in 2018 to bring it to current Town standards as a rural cross-section; AND WHEREAS the link from Ashbury Blvd. to Range Rd. remains closed as Town staff have recommended that the reconstruction of lower portion of Lake Ridge Rd. S. (south of Bayly St. E.) be completed first; AND WHEREAS the reconstruction of Lake Ridge Rd. is forecasted in the long range budget to cost $15,458,800; AND WHEREAS residents of Range Rd. and Ontoro Blvd. have asked for an alternative point of exit from the south end of Lake Ridge Rd. in the event of an emergency; Town of Ajax Council Meeting – May 21, 2024 AND WHEREAS opening the link from Ashbury Blvd. to Range Rd. would provide Lakeside residents with more transportation options; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. Operations and Environmental Services with support from Planning and Development Services be directed to: a) make any necessary temporary trail crossing improvements for the trail at Ashbury Blvd. and Range Rd.; b) conduct a baseline traffic count at Ashbury Blvd. and Audley Rd.; c) facilitate the opening of the Ashbury Blvd. and Range Rd. link; d) conduct traffic data collection between June 1, and September 30, 2024; and e) report back to Council with results of the count by the end of 2024; and 2. Public and Strategic Affairs staff be directed to give written notice of the temporary opening to the area residents; and 3. Unbudgeted funds up to $10,000, be fu

That By-law numbers 30-2024 to 35-2024 be read a first, second and third time and passed.

Be it resolved that Council: 1. Reaffirm support for the approved recommendations contained in the Lower Harwood Study between Lake Driveway and Bayly Street; and 2. Reaffirm support for the 2021 recommendations from staff that the on-street bike lanes and vehicle lanes remain in place from McRae Road to Westney Road South. MOTION

That By-law number 36-2024 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Ajax at its meeting held on May 21, 2024, be read a first, second and third time and passed.

That the May 21, 2024 meeting of the Council of the Town of Ajax be adjourned (5:25 p.m.)