How is that SUV working out for you?

Star Tribune Sat, 15 Dec 2007 06:26:54 GMT
Fuel costs take toll on outer-tier suburbs

Not everyone agrees, however. Some officials blame the soft housing market, but Realtors' groups insist that is not a factor. East Bethel's population has grown more than 20 percent since 2000, but that spurt apparently has run out of gas. And that's fuel for thought for those paying attention to the pumps, East Bethel's finance director says. It's the price of fuel and commuting, and not just the housing market, that's choking the Twin Cities' outer-tier suburbs, East Bethel finance director Bob Sundberg said recently. Unpredictable gas prices and unforgiving stop-and-go roadways have kept potential commuters from moving farther away from Minneapolis and St. Paul, he said.

[[keywords: LandUse;Metro;]]