Dana Lyon environmental impact study complete
'Do I think it's sufficient? No' - Jeanne Glass, Bath village board member
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

PHOTO BY ROB PRICE Area residents jammed the Bath courtroom last week as the village board reviewed an environmental impact study related to the former Dana Lyon school building.

BATH - More than 60 people crowded the Bath municipal building Tuesday, as the village board began its review of an updated environmental impact study of the proposed Dana Lyon development project.

The board, however, took no action on applications from the development company Liberty-East Washington LLC to demolish the former elementary school building and rezone the land for commercial use to accommodate construction of an Eckerd Pharmacy.

Board members instead approved the company's environmental study as complete, and Bath Mayor David Wallace declared the start of a 30-day period during which interested parties could submit written comments in response to the environmental data.

The study is available for reading in the village clerk's office.

Wallace last week said he expected the board to consider the rezoning and demolition applications; however, he said after Monday's meeting, a subsequent review of state environmental law confirmed the necessity of the 30-day waiting period.

Two board members - Michael Skelly and Jeanne Glass - indicated the developers' case for demolishing the building and rezoning the area did not appear convincing. "If they want to make this their case ... I don't necessarily agree," Skelly said.

"Do I think it's sufficient? No,' said Glass.

The other board members - Nancy Becker and Robin Havens - made no comment as they joined Skelly and Glass in accepting the environmental impact review.

The board will return to the issue when it holds its regular meeting on Jan. 12.

Liberty-East Washing-ton's plan to demolish the main building and replace it with an Eckerd Pharmacy would disrupt the larger St. Patrick's Square, Werbizky continued. "This site under discussion is the wrong place (for a large pharmacy)," she said. "Instead, we urge careful planning and thoughtful consideration for where a new drugstore would be a welcome addition, and not placed at the expense of existing neighborhood character."

Lyon supporters noted the Bath village board was scheduled to review a revised environmental impact study of the demolition and rezoning applications later in the week.

Village Mayor David Wallace, citing upcoming board votes on the issues, the mayor declined to comment on the Preservation League's action. The League traditionally announces its "Seven to Save" list at the beginning of the new year, Werbizky noted. It decided to make an early announcement regarding the Lyon in view of the village board's upcoming review of demolition and rezoning applications.

Werbizky told The Courier the League oversees a small amount of grant funds to assist in historical preservations. More importantly, she said, the League can assist groups such as The Save the Lyon Commission in locating federal and state grants in support of building rehabilitation. The Commission says it hopes to convert the Primary Annex into a complex of community resource rooms and possible living space.

The Preservation League learned of efforts to preserve the Lyon building through local media reporting on the issue, Werbizky added.