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Along TH 12. no residentiai or commercial structures would be required. Four residential homes are potentially required along the proposed Watertown Road connection in addition to minor property taking and easements.2. Improved Residential AccessThe three^mponent alternative is designed to alleviate the existing condition which requires area residents to travel through the congested portion of TH 12 in downtown Long Lake for both local and regional trips.For residents in Long Lake and Orono, a direct connection from HW 12 to Watertown Road vrould likely provide a more convenient and reliable means of access than either the <br />existing Watertown Road or TH 12. <br />Residences along TH 12 may experience some reduction in traffic under the proposal, <br />resulting in increased residential traffic mobility and access. <br />3. improved Commercial Access <br />Access for commercial properties along the south shore of Long Lake could be potentially <br />enhanced with the reduction in traffic. More importantly, the proposal does not eliminate <br />current businesses in Long Lake or Orono, nor does it significantly remove a large <br />proportion of pass-by trips the businesses rely on. <br />4. Decreased Tax Base Impacts <br />As a consequence of the city's built-up and landlocked location, any businesses or <br />residences taken for expansion of the highway will have to be relocated outside Long <br />Lake. This would adversely affect Long Lake’s tax base and well as its socioeconomic <br />environment. <br />Studies by Long Lake indicate that a four-lane highway on the TH 12 alignment could <br />result in the loss of $11.7 million in properties, at 1993 market rates, and $471,000 (1991 <br />dollars) in lost tax revenue. This property and revenue, approximately 23% of total tax <br />revenues coming to the city, could not be replaced. The three-component TSM <br />alternative will have significantly less tax-base impacts on the area as a result of its <br />substantially reduced property taking. <br />5. Police/Emergency Response <br />The proposed TSM alternative may enhance police and emergency access to <br />communities within the study area without severely limiting or closing existing access. <br />Enhanced response may result from the improved conditions along Watertown Road. <br />PARSONS <br />BRINCKERHOFF <br />w:\Jonglake\report.doc