Chautauqua Residents Association board chair has plans for neighbourhood

The Chautauqua Residents Association has announced its new board of directors, with Weston Miller, one of four returning members, elected president.

Miller is the third generation to call Chautauqua home, living in a house on Shakespeare Avenue, which brings him great memories of the time he spent in the neighbourhood as a boy.

Miller’s grandfather immigrated to NOTL in 1965 and has been in the same log cabin since, he says.

“After university I bought the house between my grandfather’s and my parents’. That brings me a lot of joy. I’m very fortunate and blessed to have been able to do that.”

And it’s part of the reason being president of the CRA is such an honour for him, and important to him.

The Chautauqua Residents Association has been around since 1952, Miller says, “with pretty consistent participation from its residents.”

While it is noted for its social events, such as an annual summer golf tournament and the popular September corn roast, it also gets involved in issues that are important to preserving the neighbourhood as a safe, historic community, and supports two other local committees working toward the same goal, says Miller.

One such entity is the Friends of Ryerson Park, a group of residents which began advocating for change in their neighbourhood more than two years ago. They were successful in having parking issues addressed, but at the same time asked for a reduced speed limit on Chautauqua streets, which hasn’t happened. Speeding still remains a huge area of concern, says Miller.

Also on their list of issues, being tackled by another group, is the threat from developers of changing the character of their neighbourhood. They are advocating for a list of design criteria developers must follow.

Stewards of Sustainability (SOS), the third group, aims to develop an easily-accessible resource base that will provide information to new developers, residents, designers, and planners, Miller explains, “so that development in the Chautauqua neighbourhood can occur in a sustainable manner that keeps the neighbourhood’s character and tree canopy in mind.”

The association, he says, follows a three-pronged approach: advocating for residents, which this year is focusing on traffic safety and a reduced speed limit, as well as non-owner occupied short-term rentals; neighbourhood preservation; and presenting the social events so important for the community to come together and enjoy.

“One objective close to my heart,” says Miller, “and something I’m looking at taking on as president, is highlighting the heritage of the neighbourhood. Chautauqua has an immense historical and cultural value, and I think that value has to be highlighted more clearly. I’m hoping the CRA can develop a plan that will allow us to share its history with residents and visitors alike.”

Miller, also recently elected to the board of the Niagara Foundation, is hoping the process will become easier for Chautauqua with the support of the foundation and its aim of preserving heritage in town. “That’s one of my main projects,” he says.

The continuation of social initiatives that members appreciate so much, and that play a role in keeping the neighbourhood together, are also important to him.

Next up is the annual golf tournament, to be held in August at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club.

While Miller says it is great to see Chautauqua residents out on the course playing golf, it’s really the dinner afterwards that includes those who haven’t played in the tournament “that is really a big laugh-fest. It’s an event that brings everyone together, and reminds us we have a great group of neighbours here.”

The most popular event of the year, he says, is the “iconic corn roast,” which offers food, drinks and ice cream, as well as kids’ games. It’s on Labour Day, this year Sept. 4, and always well-attended not only by Chautauqua residents but by other community members.

“I can remember when I was a little one, and Tom Braybrook (now moved out of the area) organized all the kids games,” recalls Miller. “They were the same games that are played today, and it’s fun that we are still playing them. That’s one of those things that I hope will carry on to the next generation of kids.”

A holiday get-together is a winter take on the corn roast, he says, with carolling, hot chocolate and a Sentineal horse and sleigh to pull the kids around, with Santa making an appearance as well.

In addition, he adds, “our board has been tasked with coming up with a new event. We have some pretty exciting ideas, and we’ll be announcing something that will probably be for the spring of next year.”

Although every neighbourhood has its charm and sense of community, Chautauqua has its own unique feel to it, “and that’s why I’m so eager to do my part to be sure everyone appreciates what we have, and to share that desire to really preserve it for the neighbourhood long-term,” he says.

And part of that is advocacy with the town, which the Friends of Ryerson Park have taken on.

Last year there was a presentation to council about non-owner occupied short-term rentals in the neighbourhood, which with its smaller homes has become a target for investors.

There are now 23 licensed short-term rentals, he said, and the committee will follow up by presenting some recommendations to deal with that issue.

But the most important problem to solve, Miller adds, is cars speeding through narrow streets, where kids ride their bikes, and where there are no sidewalks for pedestrians.

Cars parking on the narrow streets were also a safety issue, and the town’s willingness to put up no-parking signs has been helpful. Residents are adapting to it, Miller says, and for the most part, the people he has spoken to are happy with the results. “It’s made an immense difference,” he says.

“Slowing traffic down is the most important issue now, more than heritage preservation or anything else. It’s nice to see young families coming to the neighbourhood. When I grew up in Chautauqua we all rode our bikes and we had a great time playing on the street. But where I am on Shakespeare I see the cars flying by kids on their bikes. We really have to do something, and I’m happy to see the Friends of Ryerson Park taking the lead on this issue.”

Preservation can be an uphill battle he says, “but we’re fortunate to have so many members who feel the same. I’m hoping it won’t be that much of an uphill battle.”

And as residents advocate for development limitations, “we try to be understanding and open to what council can and cannot do, and that they’ll do what they can, knowing that what happens in Chautauqua affects the greater Niagara-on-the Lake area.”

The three separate groups working on different issues, all with the best interests of the neighbourhood at heart, will help to accomplish the goals they all support.

“We’re all volunteer organizations and it’s nice to have the synergy of different groups who can put their energy and limited resources into specific issues to tackle them more efficiently, while communicating together.”

Outgoing president Brian Crow “has done an incredible job in creating a more inclusive environment in the CRA, and making sure everyone can have their say and find a way to become involved in it.”

Kate Sullivan, Derek Cadman and Kurt Hamm are returning board members along with Miller, joined by first-time board members Mary Kilmer, Ricky Watson and Sarah Begley.