Bath planning board to meet on Wal-Mart project
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - Bath town planning board members will meet next week to determine the range of an environmental impact study tied to a proposed Wal-Mart super store on state Route 54.

The meeting, called a scoping session in the language of the environmental review process, will examine a preliminary "scoping" document prepared by Fagan Engineers for the town.

According to Fagan consultant Anne Clark, the 14-page document describes areas of environmental concern and the range of the environmental study Wal-Mart must undertake in accordance with the statemandated environmental quality review (SEQR).

Areas of concern, Clark noted, have been identified by state agencies, interested parties identified by the planning board and members of the public who have followed the Wal-Mart development since it was announced earlier this year.

But planning board members may also decide to include additional areas of concern, based on their discussion of the scoping document when they meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Civil Defense Building on state Route 54.

"The purpose of the scoping session," Clark said, "is to see if there are any other issues of concern from agencies, interested parties or the public."

The draft scoping document is on file at the Bath town clerk's office in the Liberty Street municipal building.

Earlier this month, the planning board issued a positive declaration regarding the proposed Wal-Mart developing, signifying its determination the project would have a significant impact on the environment. Impact areas identified in the scoping document include:

• The effect of a "big box" store on local property and sales taxes

• The impact on existing land use/character in the surrounding area • Traffic • Surface and ground water • Air quality • Agricultural resources • Aesthetic resources

• Public health

• Character and future growth of the area

According to Clark, a new scoping document will be drafted if planning board members identify additional concerns to be addressed in the SEQR. Eventually, she said, the board will approve the scoping orders, and at that point responsibility for completing the SEQR passes to the Wal- Mart company.

Once a preliminary SEQR is complete, Clark said, the board will review that document to determine whether it is complete for public review.