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GA THE OSHAWA TIMES, Twcsdey, April 31, 1967 MAYOR ASKS CLOSE WATCH ON EXPANSIONS NEARBY Ajax Has "Kept It's House In Order" HARRY SMITH «.e e Mayor of Ajax -- AJA X(Staff) --For the past 12 years the Ajax Industrial Commission has been supply- ing information to industries on subjects ranging from land costs to tax structures, As a partial result of their activities, Ajax now boasts almost 125 industries, The expansion of this town has been particularly rapid during the past year. During 1966 new factories and expansion of old indus- tries in the town added more than 220,000 square feet of fac- tory space to the town, not in- the town's Dupont plant. Also, during the year, 175 homes were constructed and 94 apartment suites completed. All of this, plus a new $640,000 municipal complex; a $440,000 community centre- arena; a $3,000,000 nigh school During the past year, the In- dustrial Commission made two out of town trips to attract new industries, A Chicago trip re- sulted in a move here by God- erich Tube and Steel Co., a manufacturer of automotive ex- haust pipes and shock absorber casings. They have a 25,700 square-foot factory. A fall trip by the commission to New York resulted in Pre- cision Valve locating a branch in the town, The company is the largest manufacturer of aerosol valyes in North America, As a result of new industries Ajax now employs more peo- ple than it houses. Almost 4,000 employees (in this town of almost 10,000) bear witness te this fact, This year the commission in- Another idea under consider- ation by the commission is a reception in the town for real estate agents and brokers is the area. Working closely with the commission are the town's two developers, Duffin's Creek Estates and Slough Estates. Often, the three units work to- gether on projects to attract industry. Ajax Mayor Harry M. Smith admitted that development companies have aided largely in the industrial expansion of the town, offering as they do, fully serviced land to prospec- tive buyers. Present members on the com- mission include representatives from both developers. In 1967 Ajax Industrial Com- mission consists of eight men including: Chairman K D. addition; and a sium at the St. Andrew's Sen- costing jor School, $100,000. Ajax Has 125 Industries new gymna- their visits over tries. tends to follow up the success- ful journeys of 1966 with fur- chures to prospective and monthly bro indus- Morley, secretary M. B. Beau- champ, Wetherall, Matt Miller, P. Ron McGrath, Ed Wallace McKenzie, Stratton and Mayor H. M. Smith, Growth Rapid In Past Year "We've kept our house in or- @er why burden ourselves with else's problems?" re- plied Ajax Mayor Harry M. Smith when asked about expan- sion or amalgamation for this community, Speaking of the future of Ajax the Mayor said he hoped town councils would continue to keep @ close watch on the expansion ef surrounding areas and insure @ favorable balance between in- dustrial and residential develop- ments in the town. "The planned growth pattern established by the first town council in 1955 has been con- tinued to date,"' said the mayor. "Since the town controls build- ing and occupancy permits we intend to keep a strict control on residential development. We would be prepared to allow the industrial - residential ratio drop down to 40-60 but would ther build back to a ratio close to 50-50." Mayor Smith said the balance would be thrown off somewhat when Wimpey Homes Ltd. com- pletes its proposed 500 home de- velopment in the next three years immediately south of the existing Southwood subdivision. "I believe strongly in the five-year forecast pr ited by they will present because prob- lems have a tendecy to spill over from one municipality to the next,'"' continued the Mayor. "We are in the beginning phase of closer joint planning. The Minister of Municipal Af- fairs is being presented with a plan to appoint one elected offi- cial and one layman from the eastern Metro fringe to the Tor- onto and Region Planning Board." : "At the present time only one member from the three munici- palities,. Pickering Township, Village and Ajax, sits on the Metro board. A liaison commit- tee will be formed consisting of one from each of the ourselves and our neighbors. We must watch for the impact three planning boards and three lay people. This pl mittee will appoint one member from their committee and one lay person to sit on the Toronte Region Board." Mayor Smith said he felt re gional planning was essential where transportation, sewer and water services were concerned. He added however, that the town of Ajax should retain its autonomy. The Mayor pointed out that almost 4,000 people were em ployed in the town covering an area of 3,000 acres, There are almost 3,000 homes in Ajax which has a roads network covering 34 miles. Almost 10,000 people live here with an assesse ment of $8,500,000 on their homes and 125 industries as d at $9,000,000. i ' sialic TO SUIT Serving Whitby Motorists Since 1960... And Still Growing fo Keep Pace With The Increasing Demand! The Home of Motorists -- Household Needs and Values Complete Canadian Tire Ultra Modern Auto Service Centre -- Brock St. N. AUTO REPAIRS BY CERTIFIED CLASS "A" MECHANICS can? 1aN RE pn YOUR BUDGET ASSOCIATE GERALD A. 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