Planning board kicks off Wal-Mart review
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - The Bath town planning board Tuesday took its first formal action to begin an environmental review of a proposed Wal-Mart super center development on state Route 54 north of the Village of Bath.

Planning board members unanimously passed a resolution to notify a slew of state and local offices and organizations it plans to act as lead agency in the review process.

The Town of Bath site plan review policy officially designates the planning board as lead agency for such reviews, according to Fred Muller town Supervisor.

Those offices and organizations will have 30 days to advise the planning board whether they agree to its assumption of the lead agency responsibilities. The offices may also begin providing their own preliminary responses in regards to the potential environmental impact of the 19.2 acre development, which will include construction of a 148,000 square-foot store.

Dennis Fagan, an engineer with Fagan Engineers of Elmira, told The Courier the planning board would review the agencies' responses, then rule on whether the Wal-Mart development would create a "positive" -- a code word for definite -- environmental impact.

In the likely event the board determines the project would have a positive impact, a fullblown environmental impact review would be initiated. The review would require more detailed environmental assessments of the project, in addition to oral and/or written comments from the public.

The initial cast of state and local agencies to be notified of the project include: the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; the state Department of Health; the state Department of Transportation; Bath Electric Gas & Water Systems, and the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency. Additional interested parties that also will be notified include the Steuben County Planning Board; New York State Electric & Gas; New York State Department of Parks and Recreation, and Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation Agency.

About seven area residents attended the planning board's meeting with an apparent interest in the Wal-Mart project. Resident Michelle Faumy asked planning board Chairman James Emo if the corporation could be issued a building permit while the environmental impact review is in process.

"Absolutely not," Emo said. Beth Miller of Bath asked if the Village of Bath should be included as an interested party, since the Wal-Mart development would likely have an impact on village traffic and the business district.

"You got it," Emo said.

Emo also recommended interested residents restrict their own comments regarding the Wal-Mart development to written correspondence with the planning board. "Your comments are definitely taken under advisement," he said.

The planning board will meet again July 3 in regular session and attempt to coordinate responses from state and local agencies in the environmental review process. That meeting is to take place at 7:30 in the Liberty Street municipal building, although Emo indicated the board may consider moving it to another location if larger space is deemed necessary. The planning board chairman noted the board's meetings are "public" but not "public forums."

Dennis Kennelly, a project manager with FRA Engineering, of Rochester, said Wal-Mart would supply the planning board with more details of its proposed Bath super store between now and the next planning board meeting. Kennelly told The Courier FRA Engineering is working for Wal-Mart in the development.