Ontario town fights to stop Tim Horton’s drive-thru development over road safety concerns

Caledon is going to the mattresses to try and stop an iconic Canadian coffee shop from opening a drive-thru it says is a safety risk to pedestrians and drivers.

The Town of Caledon says it’s challenging a development application to build a Tim Horton’s drive-through and other commercial buildings on Airport Road.

A development application by Ganni Properties looked to amend zoning in the town’s official plan.

But that proposal was shot down by town council following a review by planning staff, and developers want to appeal the decision at the Ontario Land Tribunal – a move the town says it’s going to fight due to safety and other concerns.

“Caledon Council, staff and residents have stood together on this issue since 2020. The proposed location simply isn’t suitable for a commercial drive-thru,” Caledon Mayor Annette Groves said in a statement.

The town says the application was denied “because the development would create traffic and site access issues,” as well as require the demolition of two “significant heritage properties” which have since received heritage designations.

There were also issues raised relating to “pedestrian and vehicle circulation and safety, noise, landscaping, and compatibility” of the development with community’s “heritage character.”

The original development application was submitted in 2020 and revised in 2022 to include a one-storey restaurant with a drive-thru as well as two commercial or retail units. A public meeting was held in September 2020 with a second meeting held in February 2023.

Caledon Ward 3 Coun. Councillor Doug Maskell says Caledon East sees more than 70 trucks pass through every hour and that “pedestrian and vehicle safety are mounting concerns within the village.”

“A busy drive-through will create more congestion and risk because of access issues and increased traffic volumes,” he said in a release.

The applicant is appealing the town’s opposition to the original proposal, as well as the bylaws passed earlier this year related to the heritage properties, the town says.

The OLT will hear the appeal starting on Nov. 25 with no set time for a decision following the hearing. Public information on the history of the application is available here.

that were enacted in June 2024 that protected 16054 and 16060 Airport Road because of cultural heritage interests under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.