MANITOULIN – There’s a long-standing rumour on Manitoulin Island that fast food chains could not happen here, an Island-wide bylaw (or some decree) makes it so. With the announcement that a Tim Hortons is indeed slated for a spring construction in Little Current, many might be wondering, ‘how did this ‘law’ get broken?’
As cute as that thought might be, the realization is that it holds no truth and is Manitoulin’s own urban myth (or rural myth, in our case). The more likely reason that Manitoulin has held off on a fast food chain for this long is our small population and off the beaten path-ness.
The online comments on Expositor social media took the Northeast Town council to task for allowing a Tim Hortons to happen. In reality, a restaurant is a restaurant is a restaurant in the eyes of a zoning bylaw.
“A restaurant that’s permitted in a zoning bylaw, if it’s a fast food restaurant, there is no difference,” said Theresa Carlisle, Manitoulin Planning Board (MPB) executive director.
Ms. Carlisle explained that there are three levels of planning: zoning bylaws at the municipal level, the Official Plan on a regional level (on Manitoulin there are two planning authorities, the MPB and the Northeast Town) and the Provincial Policy Statement at the provincial level. A zoning bylaw must conform to the Official Plan which in turn must meet provincial standards.
If there’s an application process (for example, a request in a change of zoning from residential to commercial), residents in the surrounding area would be notified and asked to comment before a decision is made. The Official Plan is intended to be an overarching plan for planning with an eye to the next 20 years, Ms. Carlisle noted.
“It’s a guideline, but every zoning bylaw has to conform,” she reiterated.
The Northeast Town, which has its own planning authority, created its Official Plan three years ago through public consultation.
Last Tuesday night the Northeast Town council reviewed the Tim Hortons site plan. The town’s CAO Dave Williamson explained that site plans are meant to be looked at with a view of the impact on the area.
In this particular case, “restaurants are commercial and are clearly allowed,” the CAO said.
When asked about the perceived lack of input on such a decision, Mr. Williamson reminded residents that the plans were developed at the public level and that the councillors, officials elected by the taxpayers, are there to be the voice of their community and make those decisions.