Wal- Mart pulls the plug
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - Little more than a year after the Wal-Mart corporation announced it would build a 150,000-square-foot "supercenter" in Bath, the retail giant abruptly announced it had suspended its plans for a giant Wal-Mart along state Route 54.

Wal-Mart spokesman Philip Serghini said the company made the decision in light of "our continued plans to moderate growth of U.S. supercenters," adding the company had been "re-evaluating the anticipated budget " for the project.

Wal-Mart in October 2007 updated its sales and growth plans, noting the rate of its construction of new supercenters would decline over the next several years.

The company's decision was bad news for supporters of the project, including local residents who had applauded a Wal-Mart store as a boon for local retail activity.

Robin Lattimer, deputy supervisor for the Town of Bath, said she was "disappointed" with Wal-Mart's decision, adding she had relayed the information to town Supervisor Fred Muller, who was out of town. Muller, Lattimer said, was also "disappointed." The Wal-Mart decision "certainly took the wind out of my sails," she said.

On the other hand, the decision was welcome news for a group of area residents who had criticized the development on the basis of environmental, local business and quality-of-life factors. In a prepared release, Bath NY Group for Responsible Development member Beth Miller said, "The group felt all along that our community would lose more than it would gain with the building of a supercenter. Our group and many other area residents think that a Wal-Mart store at the proposed site would have a negative impact on our environment, our local businesses, traffic and our overall small town economic health."

The group said it would continue to press the Bath town board to develop a comprehensive plan in support of land use regulations affecting future development.

"We need to come together as a community to encourage positive economic growth, revitalize the town and village and actively create a healthy and thriving community," said group Secretary Dave Walczak."

The Town of Bath currently has no zoning law on the books, although a draft comprehensive plan currently under review may provide the basis for individual land-use regulations.

The Wal-Mart development for Bath was in the process of an environmental impact study when the company announced it was withdrawing the project. Official concerns regarding the project had included its impacts on local traffic, a water aquifer beneath the development site and the physical characteristics of the surrounding area.