Consider the true impact of Rt. 53 extension

If more than 4.46 million square fee of new retail development and 13,000 new single family homes along the proposed Rt. 53 extension and renovated Rt. 120 sound like traffic relief to you, you must be a Lake County tax and spend politician.

Conveniently, the five communities most impacted by this environmental destruction were left off of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning that is promoting this scheme.

Lake County residents already pay the second highest property taxes in the country, and CMAP proposes a 4 cents-per-gallon gas tax for Lake County, as well as increased tolls for all tollway users to pay for this unnecessary road.

We moved to Long Grove for the ecologically sound environment and have paid ridiculously high taxes to enjoy it. If we wanted to live near Gurnee Mills or Hawthorn Center, we would have moved there.

While it is true that Highways 83 and 45 are busy during the rush hours, so is every other highway in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. A recent University of Toronto report called "The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion: Evidence from US Cities," concludes that the extension of interstate highways is met with a proportional increase in traffic in the U.S.

Other studies more than 30 years ago have said that commercial development costs more than the tax revenue it generates due to the costs of roads, fire, police, building and maintenance departments, public service pensions, and, of course, tax breaks given to businesses.

Businesses have a tendency to shop other municipalities for breaks once their tax breaks expire. Politicians should look beyond the projected tax revenues and consider expenses since development leads to higher taxes, environmental destruction, and more traffic congestion for residents.

Harry and Carol Georgas

Long Grove