Readers: Planning In The St. Louis Region Is Fragmented

Not surprisingly few picked neutral of positive answers in last week’s poll to describe planning in St. Louis.

Q: Which Term Best Describes The St Louis Region Attitude Toward Urban Planning

1. Fragmented 46 [32.86%]
2. Lacking 23 [16.43%]
3. Backwards 19 [13.57%]
4. Parochial 14 [10%]
5. Other: 14 [10%]
6. Dated 11 [7.86%]
7. Meh 5 [3.57%]
8. Desperate 3 [2.14%]
9. Average 3 [2.14%]
10. Adequate 1 [0.71%]
11. Progressive 1 [0.71%]
12. Unsure/No Opnion 0 [0%]
13. Staid 0 [0%]
14. Leading 0 [0%]
15. Appropriate 0 [0%]

Similarly the “other” answers readers used were also mostly negative:

1. like a Potemkin Village
2. non-existent
3. almost non-existent
4. democratic
5. Once bitten twice shy
6. Sluggish – 5-10 years behind
7. hostile
8. Insightful and very thorough
9. opportunistic (for developers, NOT residents)
10. Uninspired
11. Anti business
12. Only used to line the politician’s pockets.
13. The region is much more focused on development than planning
14. show me the money!

Well-functioning regions don’t happen by chance with business and political interests looking out for their own interests. Good planning can look past short interests at the long term big picture.  I’m not optimistic we’ll ever find out what that’s like in greater St. Louis.

— Steve Patterson