Dear editor:

Anyone who takes five minutes to drive or stroll around Chautauqua can see it’s not like the rest of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The streets are narrower, the cottages are humbler and the whole place has a distinct, quirky charm.

Spend a few more minutes Googling — or better yet, visit the Chautauqua Residents Association website — and you’ll uncover the remarkable history of this small neighbourhood.

Did you know, for instance, that what’s now Circle Street once bordered a very large amphitheatre?

Most residents of NOTL know that Chautauqua is a community with deep roots, its own character, and needs that deserve respect.

That’s why, back in 2019, town council got it right when they included a commitment to a secondary plan for Chautauqua in the draft official plan.

They recognized this isn’t a copy-and-paste neighbourhood. It needs thoughtful, area-specific planning to protect what makes it special.

What doesn’t make sense is why the current council has backed away from that commitment. There’s no good reason for it.

I fully support the Chautauqua Residents Association’s request that council reinstate its commitment to create a proper secondary plan for the neighbourhood.

It’s the least we can do to protect a community that’s been a distinct part of NOTL’s story for over a century.

Jeff Richardson
Old Town