Location, location, location

In the real estate world, the most critical issues involved with picking the right property are location, location, location. For several reasons, Route 54 in Bath is simply the wrong location for a Wal-Mart super-center.

First of all, Bath already has a serious traffic problem on Route 54. Wal-Mart will only exacerbate the issue further with an average of 880 additional cars per hour. This will clearly affect public safety as the risk of accidents increases. The gridlock will also impede emergency services to and from the Davenport Hospital. The hospital is not only a destination but also a connection point for airlifts to other facilities.

Secondly, the Wal-Mart site is located on a primary aquifer for the region, and the soil there is extremely porous. This means that runoff and waste has the potential to contaminate water sources for communities all across the region.

The location makes little business sense for Wal-Mart; indeed, putting a massive development next to an interstate exit is the standard practice. Forcing travelers to drive through residential areas is not.

It is unfortunate, but expected, that local developers are willing to sacrifice safety and quality of life issues simply for personal profit. However, it is a travesty when local government officials refuse to protect our community, refusing to even consider the massive impacts of this project. It is no secret that Bath Town Board members have already made up their minds on the issue, as evidenced by their newspaper and radio advertisements over the last few weeks in favor of Wal-Mart. In fact, one Town Board member proposed that Route 54 employees shop at Wal- Mart after work to help mitigate the traffic issue. Did we elect him to look out for our community's interests, or to increase Wal-Mart's bottom line?

Unfortunately, without any land use regulations, our town is vulnerable to corporate predators, as evidenced by the profusion of billboards and the adult bookstore. Right now Wal-Mart is one more predator, and the people we elected to look out for our interests are sacrificing us on the altar of corporate greed and local profiteering.

It's time to remind the Town Board who they work for, and it's very clear that they need to hear from the rest of the community on this issue.

David Walczak Bath