The conversion of a farm that straddles the boundary between the city of Bath and the town of West Bath shows how this process happens. The 100-acre site, once a historic farm, is being turned into a giant business park. Companies need space to conduct their affairs, but by creating a single-use area that is cut off from its surroundings, the business park threatens to worsen sprawl in the area. Already the city has used state and local funding to extend infrastructure and build new roads. This spending gives sprawling growth like the business park a subtle but significant advantage that encourages more of the same.
Commercial development is important to balancing growth in an area.
But in this case, the project will create more sprawl. Perhaps if West Bath and surrounding communities move toward a more open planning process they could better balance growth and protect open space.