Urbana raises 'big box' concerns
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

HAMMONDSPORT - Urbana town board members last week agreed a proposed Wal-Mart superstore on state Route 54 in the Town of Bath merits a long-range economic impact study to accompany a state-mandated environmental quality review.

"We're not going to try to impose our will, but I will write a letter of support in favor of the economic study," said Urbana town Supervisor Richard Gardiner. "I think they should know what the economic impact on the surrounding area is going to be."

Gardiner's decision, backed by town board members, was in response to appeals from members of the BathNY group, which has lobbied for a moratorium of box-style stores in the Town of Bath. Members of the group also have warned the Wal-Mart superstore could force numerous local businesses to close.

BathNy spokesman Tony Moretti of Hammondsport told board members the group's concerns boiled down to the possible impact the Wal-Mart would have on water supplies for the Town of Urbana, dense traffic along the Route 54 corridor and the economic impact on local stores.

Fish Hatchery Road resident William Baran added a Wal- Mart could disrupt an underground aquifer that reportedly runs through the development area into Keuka Lake. Wal- Mart would also create unfair business competition, Baran said, noting his own Christmas tree business could be negatively affected.

"I welcome competition, but competition from Wal-Mart is overwhelming in the Christmas tree business," Baran said. "The economic impact on smaller business can be pretty devastating."

Bath town officials to date have taken no action on requests from Bath NY members to impose a box-store moratorium or to initiate a joint town-village study of the long-term economic impact of a Wal-Mart superstore.

"We do feel our appeals have fallen on deaf ears in Bath," Michelle Fahmy of Hammondsport told the Urbana town board.

In a separate action, a majority of the Bath village board indicated last week they would support a joint town-village study of the possible local impact of a Wal-Mart superstore (See accompanying article on this page).