Comprehensive plan now in hands of Bath town board
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - An ad hoc committee charged two years ago with developing site restrictions for prospective adult businesses in the Town of Bath has submitted a 53-page Comprehensive Plan for the municipality to the town board.

According to Hal Bailey, chairman of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, the document is unchanged since a public review on Oct. 22. However, Bailey noted, written responses to the plan have been included as an addendum.

Bath town Supervisor Fred Muller said town board members would begin their own review of the plan "and go from there." The board will hold another public hearing regarding a townwide comprehensive plan at some point in the future, he added.

Bailey has described the plan as a set of guidelines to assist town board members in drafting future legislation, including site requirements for adult businesses. The Comprehensive Plan Committee was convened in the aftermath of the opening of an adult products store on Worth Road.

Regarding the siting of future adult businesses, the plan recommends the town draft a site plan review law requiring any adult business to be located at least 1,000 feet from "sensitive land uses" that include private residences, schools and places of worship.

The plan, however, explores a wide range of other issues, including:
• Water quality
• Mining
• Tourism
• Housing conditions
• Public transportation
• Junk control and community
appearance

In spite of its range, the plan drew fire last week from individuals who pushed for a more extensive effort from Bailey's committee.

Wheeler town resident Beth Miller charged the committee "didn't have the oomph to keep working" and said the plan needed more public input.

Her comments drew a rebuke from town councilman Albert Burns, who noted Miller is not a resident of Bath. "If you have comments ... I wish you'd take them to your town officials," Burns said.

Additional criticism came from Bath resident Patty Rice, who charged the committee did not have "the full support" of the board board or town planning board.

That drew a rebuke from Muller. "I take offense to that," the supervisor said. "If not for this board , there would be no Comprehensive Planning committee."