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lations will apply also in the industrial zone, although signs will be less restricted as to size and location. The by-law is designed to establish more generous standards than would be possible in an already existing town. Space, pure and simple, is in abundant supply. At the same time, the economic development of land must be considered, for it would not be reasonable to impose unnecessary burdens on the taxpayer. Our minimum requirements for setbacks, yards, and permissible occupancies, are not too far out of line with accepted practice. Perhaps the greatest difference is to be found in the regulations governing multiple-family dwellings. We have accepted the principle that the area of the site should bear a direct relationship to the number of families to be housed. Moreover, the design of multiple dwellings affords the architect opportunities for the grouping of buildings in unconventional patterns. New ideas should not be ruled out, merely because they were unforeseen and consequently may not conform to the letter of the law. We therefore tried to make the regulations sufficiently flexible to permit the development of fresh solutions. Although it is impossible to anticipate every eventuality, we attempted to check each provision of the by-law by graphic interpretation on the drafting board. Many sketches were made to determine the "worst possible case" conforming with the proposed regulations. GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN As yet there is no "official" master plan for Ajax. The General Plan dated September 1950 is the latest of a series of studies carried out during the past two years. The basic structure of the plan is very simple, and was largely determined by the governing conditions of the problem. The industrial area already existed as part of the old Defence Industries plant. The Wartime Housing village was completely built up. The existence of Second Street defined the southern limit of our first residential neighbourhood. The major elements of the General Plan are shown in the accompanying illustration. Our principal thoroughfare, Harwood Avenue, ex-tending southward from the bridge, will be flanked on the west side by the central business district, and on the east by a strip of land reserved for high-density housing. Between the business district and the industrial district a smaller area is allocated for light industrial uses. Immediately south of the business centre is a large Recreation Area which will provide sites for the High School and future Community Hall. Surrounding the Recreational Area will be the residential districts, planned on the neighbourhood unit principle, each with its own school and small local shopping centre. There will be four such neighbourhoods, plus a residential district to the west suitable for more expensive houses on larger lots. At the present time, planning in detail has been limited to the area north of Second Street. The major elements have been defined, and further planning will consist, in the main, of adjusting specific projects to the framework already laid down. South of Second Street, the general layout of the proposed residential neighbourhoods conforms with topographic conditions. Engineering surveys now in progress will determine the precise extent of the area which can be included within a sewer system of economic design. Our plan will then be modified accordingly. Our most serious problem is the matter of fringe development. At the present time, commercial facilities are sadly out of balance with industrial and residential growth. When the 600 Wartime Houses were built, a single groceteria was provided in conjunction with them. This is entirely inadequate, and it has been the direct cause of an unfortunate ribbon development along the northerly extension of Harwood Avenue, our principal traffic route. Small shops, built close to the street, have appeared here immediately beyond our boundary, in the usual pattern of uncontrolled expansion. This parasitic appendage is still growing, for lack of restrictive measures to prevent it. We are protected on the west by the existence of Duffin Creek, but on the eastern boundary a similar danger spot exists, and a small grocery has recently appeared to herald the possible beginning of a second fringe area. The Townships of Pickering and Whitby have established a Joint Planning Board. We hope that the problem will eventually be solved through the co-operation of the Planning Board and the Ontario Department of Planning and Development. THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT Studies indicated we should base our plan upon an assumed eventual population of 20,000 to 25,000 persons. It was then necessary to determine the probable requirements, in terms of space and frontage, for a business centre adequate to serve the future town. Study of land use statistics of existing cities would suggest the need for a much larger area than we have provided. Two important facts lead us to believe that the plan we have evolved will prove adequate. First, it is common knowledge that the average urban municipality has far more land in commercial use than it can maintain at a desirable level of prosperity. A high proportion of the total consists of vacant lots, junk yards, and all manner of run-down shops existing on a marginal economic basis. The second characteristic of Ajax is the clean-cut separation of through traffic, by reason of the new dual highway which cuts "under" the community without actually touching it. Transienr trade will not be a significant factor in the economic development of the town. Ajax will be almost entirely self-contained in this respect.