Community-led petitions debate value of new Tim Horton’s in Caledon East

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

Residents of Caledon East are going back and forth over whether or not there should be a new Tim Horton's developed in Caledon East. 

Filomena Coulas began an online petition one week ago declaring the need for a Tim Horton's in Caledon East, to help with development and bring more eyes to local businesses.

“We all want to see our local businesses be successful, but in order for that to happen we need people to stop in our beautiful downtown core.  Many residences have lost confidence in the development of the downtown core.  Tim Horton's will help drive the business locally in Caledon East. Entrepreneur's will invest in Caledon East when they are assured the clientele is there to keep their business's open and thriving.  This will hopefully lead to a pub/restaurant development, hardware store and possibly a local car wash. This will also help student/seniors in Caledon East stay in their community and work in their community that currently lacks jobs for young students,” Coulas posted on the petition. 

The only concern residents who do want the development of the Tim Horton's is location. Weston Consulting applied to the Town of Caledon proposing a Tim Horton's drive through location at 16054 and 16060 Airport Road. 

Soon after, a second petition was developed online by Caledon resident Melissa Brown to halt all decisions on a Tim Horton's in Caledon East. 

Under the current Town bylaw, drive-thrus aren't permitted to be established in Caledon East. 

Brown describes the cons to the Tim Horton's drive-thru being developed in Caledon East stating, “this establishment would border residential properties, bring greatly increased traffic, pollution and noise to the area, potentially hurt other local businesses and would cause the drive-thru to back up onto Airport Road with their proposed layout.” 

She added, “I do believe there is a need for a beautification program for the main strip in Caledon East, but the last thing we want is another gasoline alley for travelers on their way north.” 

On March 24, Council will be holding a public meeting to discuss the amendment to the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw from Village Commercial to Village Commercial Site-Specific Exception, as well as a proposed to permit a drive through service facility for the Tim Horton's. 

To date 214 have signed for Tim Horton's in Caledon East and 1,088 have signed against. 

For more information, please visit caledon.ca/publicnotices/development.