Big box development

I want to commend the Belfast City Council for extending their moratorium on big box development. Our community of Bangor is in a similar situation with Wal-Mart intending to build a 224,000 square ft. superstore on Stillwater Avenue adjacent to the Penjajowac Marsh/Stream complex. This development would have a 27.2 acre footprint and 1000 parking spaces.

Surely Bangor City Planners did not conceive of a big box development of this magnitude when they created their Comprehensive Plan for our community. I realize that the Bangor Mall area is targeted for commercial/retail expansion but this is truly overkill.

As citizens do we really need or want this type of excess? Can we afford the negative economic, aesthetic, environmental, safety and social impacts that this sort of development would have on our quality of life?

If you feel that the complex that Wal-Mart is planning is not good for our community there are several things that you can do to become involved.

First, you can come to the Bangor Planning Board meeting (1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 P.M. at City Hall) when Wal-Mart submits their revised superstore proposal. They have not yet submitted their revised plan for review but be on the lookout (probably in January) for the exact date so that you can be there to express your concerns or simply lend support to those of us who will be vocal in our opposition.

Second, you can find out more about how you can oppose this plan by coming to a B.A.C.O.R.D. (Bangor Area Citizens Organized for Responsible Development) meeting on any Monday evening, 7:00 P.M. at the Peace & Justice Center, 170 Park Street, Bangor (Phone 942-9343). This is our community and we do have a voice, if we choose to use it.

Suzanne B. Kelly

Bangor