Town of Bath needs comprehensive plan

The Bath Town Board has never adopted a Comprehensive Plan. To the best of my knowledge, Hornell, Erwin, Big Flats and Horseheads, those that have Big Box stores, already have Comprehensive Plans/Zoning Ordinances in place. It is important to have a Plan for our town before we welcome such out-ofscale development. I say "our town" because even though I live right over the border in Wheeler, Bath is my town too. This is true for so many area citizens who live in municipalities that don't have a real town or real commerce within them. Those of us in neighboring villages support and rely on Bath to be vital economically and otherwise.

In the late 1700's Colonel Williamson laid out this Town with a vision. He mapped out Pulteney Square and the wide boulevards of Liberty Street and Washington Road. He organized and hosted a World's Fair here before 1800! We have an incredible history and we can have an incredible future if we consciously plan for it.

In April 2006 the Bath Town Board passed a Site Plan Review Law which was visionary. Article 3 describes the law's purpose: "The Town of Bath has a special quality of life that can create the potential for an uncontrolled increase in growth...As unplanned growth begins to overtake the Town, farm fields, scenic views and century old local character are disappearing. The Town, in response to these rapid changes, is adopting this local law to control this growth and plan for Bath's future, to protect its natural resources and to accommodate economic growth, so that future growth patterns are harmonious with the area's special characteristics and resources."

In detailing the Site Plan Law's review standards, Article 7 states: "Recommendations and goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan will be of paramount importance in all decisions." So, how can the Planning Board adequately and lawfully evaluate an application for completely unprecedented commercial development - 148,000 square feet - without a Comprehensive Plan in place to guide their review?

The Town of Bath, by adopting its 2006 Site Plan Review Law, was headed in the right direction. It needs to follow its own dictates and adopt a Comprehensive Plan. We need a Moratorium on Oversized Commercial Development, i.e. over 50,000 sq ft, until a Comprehensive Plan is completed. The acting Chair of the Land Use Committee, Hal Bailey, reported at the July Town Board Meeting that the committee expects to have a Comprehensive Plan ready for adoption by the end of this year. That's only 5 1/2 months away! Such a moratorium will not discourage most entrepreneurs, since few businesses are larger than TOPS, for example, which is 49,000 square feet.

If we don't complete a Plan now, then when? After Wal-Mart builds? And possibly leaves? Be aware that Wal-Mart closed over 700 stores between 1995 and 2005. Just because it wants to build here, doesn't mean it will stay here. Please write our Town Supervisor Fred Muller and Board Members Bill Glosick, Albert Burns, Robin Lattimer and Dean Kropp at 110 Liberty Street, Bath, NY 14810 and let them know you support a Moratorium on Over-Sized Commercial Development until a Comprehensive Plan is in place.

Beth Miller Wheeler