St. Davids ratepayers lay their wish list before NOTL council

The St. Davids Ratepayers Association wants Niagara-on-the-Lake council to take action on the top three items on its wish list — a community safety zone, a heritage conservation district and a commitment to continuing to operate a pool in the village.

Association representative Mike Pearsall told councillors Monday that a community safety zone would be a first step to address traffic concerns on portions of York and Four Mile Creek roads. The designation would result in fines being doubled for speeding violations.

Although the two roads are regionally owned, Pearsall said the town could designate them if public safety was considered to be of special concern.

The St. Davids group is also proposing that the village be deemed a heritage conservation district similar to the Old Town. Pearsall noted that the group’s members are seeking heritage designations on streetscapes, not on individual buildings or properties.

Pearsall said the designation would allow responsible development and redevelopment while maintaining the character of the village and the preservation of key historical features.

The St. Davids group also wants to see the town continue to operate a pool in the village. The aging outdoor pool, donated to the town by the Lions club, requires major repairs. During the last council term, there was some discussion about closing the pool and building a splash pad.

Director of operations Sheldon Randall said the town has no intention of the closing pool and sought feedback from residents through the town’s website over the past few months. Options included repairing the current pool, building a new one and adding a splash pad and community centre.