A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool that can help revitalize defined areas within a community by providing programs, such as grants that are strategically designed to help achieve the goals and objectives identified for that area by the municipality.
Town of Ajax Official Plan
The Town of Ajax Official Plan focuses on land use and contains goals and policies that guide the physical, social and economic growth of our community. The Official Plan establishes a vision of the future urban structure, protects important environmental areas and will serve as the basis for managing change within our community for the next 25 years.
The Ontario Planning Act also requires local municipalities, including the Town of Ajax, to review their Official Plan every 10 years to ensure that the policies conform, or does not conflict, with the policies outlined in Provincial Plans. The Town of Ajax Official Plan is currently under review and details are available on the IMO page of ajax.ca. In addition, as of January 1, 2025, Durham Region became an “upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities”. As a result of this the Regional Official Plan, has now become part of the Area Municipal Official Plans of Durham’s eight municipalities, including the Town of Ajax. More details are available on the Region of Durham website.
Development Decisions
The Official Plan includes policies that help make development decisions, including:
- How to protect the natural environment;
- Where to put new housing, businesses and shopping areas, parks, schools and places of worship;
- What types of housing, employment and shopping areas to include;
- What type of infrastructure (roads, transit, water and sanitary, stormwater and waste management) will be needed;
- How to address, mitigate and adapt to climate change;
- How to protect cultural assets; and
- What urban design and environmentally sustainable principles should be followed when developing.
Studies and Assessments
Housing Needs Assessment
The Town has completed a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) to better understand local housing needs and gaps. All communities with population over 30,000 are required to complete an HNA in order to access funding from the Canada Community-Building Fund or Federal permanent transit funding. Ajax’s HNA follows a template from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, builds on the 2023 Ajax Housing Strategy and Housing Action Plan; and provides some additional local data. The findings will help shape future housing strategies and guide investment decisions at both the local and government levels.
Environmental Assessments
Overview
A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) is a five phase study that identifies potential positive and negative effects of municipal capital projects such as roads, water and wastewater.
The process reviews impacts on the natural and social environment, including impacts to plants and animals, traffic patterns, and to residents and businesses in the community. This process helps to stop any negative impacts that may be found during the review.
Process
In Ontario, municipal EAs follow the Municipal Engineers Association document “Municipal Class Environmental Assessment,” (October 2000, amended 2007).
Public consultation is an important part of the EA process. In Ajax we host Public Information Centres or PIC’s in the community as well as consult directly with municipal councils, review agencies, interest groups, and property owners.
For more information on the process, please read the Class Environmental Assessment Process Guide.
Town of Ajax Community Improvement Plans (CIPs)
Does the Town have a Community Improvement Plan (CIP)?
The Town of Ajax has two Community Improvement Plan (CIP) areas – the Downtown CIP area and the Pickering Village CIP area – which have been designated in the Town of Ajax Official Plan. The programs available within each CIP provide financial incentives to property owners designed to inspire the continued improvement of these two areas and support the introduction of desired uses and urban forms.
Downtown Community Improvement Plan
The Downtown Ajax Community Improvement Plan (CIP) was first adopted by Council in 2005 and was amended in 2023. Its programs are aligned with the policies of the Town of Ajax Official Plan and are designed to enhance Downtown Ajax by strengthening its vibrancy, accessibility and economic viability.
The Downtown Community Improvement Plan (CIP) includes the following programs and financial incentives:
- The Municipal Property Acquisition, Investment and Partnership Program helps establish public and private partnerships to ensure the optimized redevelopment of properties within the Downtown CIP area;
- The Commercial Property Accessibility and Beautification Grant Program provides financial assistance to owners of commercial and institutional properties for improving accessibility and/or the general visual appearance of their businesses; and
- The Patio Grant Program provides financial assistance to owners of commercial properties for the construction of permanent patios to enhance streetscape character and activity.
UPDATE: The framework for the Downtown CIP was approved by Town of Ajax Council on November 27, 2023. However, funding to support the program is considered annually as part of the Town’s Operating Budget. At the present time, the Town of Ajax Operating Budget does not include any funding for the Downtown CIP. Any future decisions to allocate funding as part of the Operation Budget will be outlined here.
Pickering Village Community Improvement Plan
The Pickering Village CIP was first adopted by Council in 2013 and was amended in 2023. Its programs are aligned with the policies of the Town of Ajax Official Plan and are designed to attract uses that will make the Village the cultural centre of the Town, while also supporting and investing in its wealth of heritage assets.
The Pickering Village Community Improvement Plan (CIP) includes the following programs and financial incentives:
- The Façade Improvement Grant Program promotes the sensitive redesign and restoration of existing building facades to enhance the image of the area;
- The Sign Grant Program promotes the installation of new signage that is sensitive to the character of Pickering Village and improves the streetscape;
- The Commercial Property Accessibility Grant Program facilitates improved accessibility for commercial and institutional buildings and properties;
- The Interior Renovation Grant Program promotes the renovation of interior spaces in existing buildings to support desired land uses;
- The Patio Grant Program promotes the construction of permanent patios to enhance streetscape character and activity; and
- The Cash-in-Lieu of Parking Equivalency Grant Program provides grants equal in value to cash-in-lieu of parking payments for desired land uses where on-site parking facilities are not feasible.
UPDATE: The framework for the Pickering Village CIP was approved by Town of Ajax Council on November 27, 2023. However, funding to support the program is considered annually as part of the Town’s Operating Budget. At the present time, the Town of Ajax Operation Budget does not include any funding for the Pickering Village CIP. Any future decisions to allocate funding as part of the Operating Budget will be outlined here.