Township issues legal notice, brings in police for traffic behind Mount Forest Tim Hortons
Traffic enforcement program aims to stop people from parking or stopping on John Street
WELLINGTON NORTH – Though the Mount Forest Tim Hortons has been there for decades, Wellington North council is taking new measures to mitigate its impact on John Street.
And a lawyer representing the township has issued a written notice to Tim Hortons regarding traffic issues there.
A traffic enforcement program will be implemented to stop people from parking or stopping on John Street.
Expected to begin in mid- to late-May, it will include two weeks of education on social media and in local news outlets, two weeks of OPP enforcement and then one week of follow-up to measure compliance.
The program is expected to cost about $5,000.
According to a May 4 report to council, township staff met with Tim Hortons officials and the property owners three times in 2024 to discuss John Street traffic issues related to the drive-thru, but neither “acknowledged a traffic issue directly attributable to the drive-thru operations, nor did they propose any remedial measures.”
The owner of the Mount Forest Tim Hortons did not respond to the Advertiser’s request for comment.
During reconstruction of John Street in 2025, staff say access to the drive-thru lane moved to Main Street South, and no negative impacts on traffic were observed.
When John Street reopened in September, township staff say “traffic associated with the drive-thru resumed pre-construction habits, including illegal parking and stopping on John Street.
“Township staff are requesting a future meeting with 319 Main St. S. property owner and Tim Hortons ... owner to further discuss how they plan to address and correct the John Street traffic issue directly linked to the drive-thru operations,” the report states.
