Ajax

Town of Ajax has a new Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDM) launched in March 2023. TDM is a series of community-based initiatives designed to encourage residents and people who work in the Town to use sustainable modes of transportation more often. Complete Street Guidelines has been incorporated in the TDM.

Ajax Partnership Fund is not exclusive to climate actions and covers a diversity of environmental projects. The Town recently funded environmental projects such as the Indigenous Community & Healing Garden and the Mind Your Plastic education program.

Ajax Climate Risk & Resiliency Plan, 2019 and its associated Implementation Strategy is a corporate and community resilience plan.

The Town of Ajax endorsed the Durham Community Energy Plan and partners with the Region to deliver several of the identified climate action items including implementing the Ajax Green Standard.

The Ajax Council unanimously passed a motion to endorse the Region of Durham’s community GHG emission reduction by 10% by 2025, 30% by 2030, and 100% by 2050 (below 2019 levels).

Ajax has partnered with TRCA and the Region of Durham to implement the Ajax Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (Ajax SNAP), the first SNAP in Durham. As part of the program, they will be designing and testing a delivery model for the targeted implementation of the Durham Greener Homes Program. 2024 is the second year of the Durham Greener Homes Program.

Complete Street Guidelines are part of the Transportation and Demand Management Plan, 2023.

Ajax Climate Risk & Resiliency Plan, 2019 and its associated Implementation Strategy is a corporate and community plan. In 2024, a five-year update of the Ajax Climate Risk & Resiliency Plan Implementation Strategy was approved by council.

Ajax's Mid- to High-Density Residential and Non-residential Green Development Standards has EV Ready requirements—50% of 20 or more parking spaces. For Low-rise residential applications, the requirement is 50% of parking space.

The Town of Ajax Green Development and Environmental Design Guidelines (GDEDG) were approved by council in April 2022. It is a tiered municipal green standard. There are two levels of achievement for the GDEDG: Tier 1 is the minimum required level of achievement Tier 2 is a voluntary higher level of achievement. Planning & Development Services Department tracks the implementation of the GDEDG.

The Ajax Green Standard includes voluntary criteria for green roofs for both non-residential and mid-to high-density residential proposals. For example, tier 2 requires green roofs to be at least 10% of the total roof surface.

The Town is developing a Green Fleet Strategy; the capital funding has been approved, and the development will begin in 2024.

Corporate Net Zero Emissions Plan is currently underway and expected to be finalized in Q1 2025.

Community GHG Inventory Report, 2015, is the latest progress report.

The Town of Ajax does not have an Urban Agriculture Plan, but section 2.1.7 of the Ajax Official Plan speaks to Urban Agriculture goals. In the Ajax Green Standard for Mid- to High-Density Residential and Non-residential, there is an Urban Agriculture metric to encourage the dedication of roof/ground space for gardens.

The Ajax Urban Forest Study, 2023, examines the distribution of canopy cover by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) land use type, available planting opportunities, size and species composition, the structural value of the forest, and forest function. Additionally, the report explores change since the last assessment completed in 2009, the potential future state of the forest, and urban heat mapping and planting prioritization.