Poll: Should Golden Valley Change or Should Critics Back Off?

An opinion column that had the unusual distinction of appearing in both the Star-Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press over the weekend was written "In Defense of Suburbs," as the Star Tribune's headline put it.

In his op-ed, locally-based city-planning consultant Tom Martinson beat back a range of criticisms frequently levelled against suburbs:

As suburbia expanded coast to coast over the past decades, criticisms only increased. Suburban subdivisions are not "walkable," so people have to drive everywhere. Suburban traffic is terrible. ...

As an antidote, suburban neighborhoods should be made as citylike as possible, with very small lots resulting in much higher densities, emphasizing increased walking, bicycling and reliance on public transit.

What About Golden Valley?

Most of the talk during the elections for Golden Valley's mayor and city council centered around the city's budget and spending.  But there was some talk about making the city more pedestrian-friendly.

During the League of Women Voters forum, repeatedly made the point that Golden Valley doesn't have enough sidewalks that are wheelchair accessible or enough sidewalks at all. He said he wanted to see transit rail come to Olson Memorial Highway.  Beck lost the election by a wide margin, but several people told Patch that they agreed with some of his ideas.

"We have this cute downtown, but it almost feels like you have to drive from the across the street to," Katie Allen told Patch Nov. 7.  "So (Beck) has got a point. I'd love to see Golden Valley look more like 50th and France than these separated shopping centers."

Prior to winning a seat on the Golden Valley City Council on Nov. 8, then-candidate Joanie Clausen told Patch and those attending the League of Women voters that when it comes to sidewalks, some neighborhoods want them, and some don't.  of the different neighborhoods and not make blanket decisions for the city.

What do you think? Are suburbs like Golden Valley fine as they are or do they need to change? And should one policy work for the residential areas and another for the downtown area?