The Chautauqua Residents Association is criticizing the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for what it sees as a glaring omission in the town’s newly revised official plan.
The association’s president says the town shouldn’t have changed one part of the old draft of the official plan that said the town would develop a detailed local development plan for the Chautauqua neighbourhood in Old Town.
The town, meanwhile, says that while the wording in the new plan may look different, its dedication to the neighbourhood and creating a secondary plan for it hasn’t changed.
In a letter sent last Wednesday, the association explained its issue with the new draft official plan, which council approved and is now available for public feedback and discussion.
The revised document will replace the 2019 version, which the Ontario government and Niagara Region rejected for not conforming to higher-level planning policies. The new draft is meant to address those concerns.
However, in its letter, the association points out that one part of the new draft that stated “Secondary plans will be developed for all or a portion of Old Town and Virgil, including the Chautauqua neighbourhood in Old Town” was stricken from the document.
Now, the current draft reads: “Other areas that will be considered for area-specific plans or character area policies include the Chautauqua neighbourhood and the wartime homes in Old Town.”
This comes after a section that states the town will prepare new secondary plans and review and update existing plans for the Queen-Picton corridor in Old Town, Virgil, the dock area, St. Davids, Queenston and Glendale.
“The residents of Chautauqua would like to know why the town has opted to remove their commitment,” the association wrote in its letter, signed by its president, Weston Miller. “One that was made by the town based on years of consistent resident feedback and support.”
The group welcomed the town’s 2019 commitment to a secondary plan, Miller told The Lake Report, saying it was “what we’ve wanted for decades.”
“So you can imagine our surprise and disappointment … that that commitment had been removed completely and replaced with a line that said an area-specific plan or policy will be ‘considered,'” he said.
“So, they’ve completely removed the commitment, which is disappointing for us.”
At the heart of the issue for the neighbourhood group is Chautauqua’s distinct history and identity within Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Located in the western part of Old Town, Chautauqua was the site of a summer camp in the late 19th century, based on the Chautauqua movement — an educational, religious and cultural initiative that brought speakers, musicians and preachers to local communities.
“We were sort of the original tourist destination in NOTL,” said Miller. “There was a great need for people to come and reflect and educate themselves.”
While the summer camp is long gone, the association says the neighbourhood remains unique. Its historical roots, low building density and distinctive “hub and spoke” street layout — featuring the circular Circle Street with straight roads extending from it — all contribute to its character.
“We’re part of Niagara-on-the-Lake and we’re so thrilled that we’re from Niagara-on-the-Lake,” said Miller. “But we have our own identity as well.”
A secondary plan would allow for a specific planning framework to protect that identity, he said.
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa said he largely agrees with the association’s concerns but believes they may stem from a misunderstanding — the town still intends to make a secondary plan for Chautauqua, he said.
“Council affirmed as recently as last month in the official plan workshop that special areas such as Chautauqua and the Victory Home area, for example, are in need of special policies,” Zalepa wrote in an email obtained by The Lake Report.
He said a conversation between the town and the association could have cleared up the confusion and called on the association to put out a “correction/clarification letter.”
“It is unfortunate that the Chautauqua Residents Association chose to characterize the item like it has in their letter,” he said. “We believe it misstates the council’s direction.”
While both the association and the town expressed their desire for a special plan for Chautauqua, Miller said the wording matters — especially for a place so deeply tied to his family’s history.
“I grew up in the neighbourhood,” he said. “I’m actually the third generation of my family in the neighbourhood … This has been home for me for my entire life.”
The town is aiming to submit the final draft of this new official plan by November to the province.
