Bath ready for final comprehensive plan
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - An ad hoc committee of Bath town officials has completed revisions to a comprehensive plan that will guide future economic development in the town, including legislation to regulate the siting of adult businesses.

It was the opening of an adult products store on Worth Road in 2004 that led to the formation of a committee charged with drafting a long range plan for land usage regulations. A draft version of that plan was submitted to the town board at the end of 2007.

On April 14, a four-member committee will submit a revised plan to the town board at the board's regular 7 p.m. meeting.

According to committee member Robin Lattimer, board members will be asked to submit their own suggestions and a public hearing on the plan will likely be held next month.

"From April 14 on, we'll make it available for public scrutiny," Lattimer said, noting the document will be available in the town clerk's office, the Savona Public Library and the Dormann Library. The document also will be posted to the Steuben county website, she said.

Lattimer said the ad hoc committee made no substantive changes to the draft plan, leaving descriptive situations and recommended policies standing. It deleted specific recommendations, with Lattimer noting the town board has the responsibility of drawing up legislation based on the committee's general recommended policies.

Regarding adult businesses, the draft comprehensive plan noted adult businesses have "unique secondary impacts" on surrounding neighborhoods, including:

• Increased crime levels

• Degradation and blighting of neighborhoods

• Depreciation of commercial and residential properties.

The committee's recommended policy: "Adult uses in the Town of Bath will be carefully regulated to protect sensitive neighborhoods and land uses from the negative secondary impacts associated with adult businesses."