By Ivan Raconteur
Staff Writer

Mayer has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, and, with a new well and wastewater treatment plant in the works, New Germany is poised to follow suit.

Mayer has already tripled its population since 1990, and is looking to triple it again.

In 1990, Mayer’s population was 471, and 15 years later, its population has almost tripled, to about 1,100, former Mayor Gerald Thomas said.

The estimated population for Mayer in 2020 is 2,550 and in 2030, it is estimated that 3,500 people will reside there, according to the Metropolitan Council.

New Germany is underway with a large development project that will double its population once it is completed, Black Forest Estates.

Black Forest will offer 182 homes when completed, which will double the current size of New Germany, made up of 150 residences.

This follows the steps of a new lift station and forcemain project underway in New Germany, which allowed for 40 new units.

More land that could be eligible for future development was added to the city in June of 2004 when the city approved the annexation of 80 acres owned by Lowell Latzig.

New Germany has been working with Hollywood Township and developer Grant Hustad to annex 160 acres for the proposed Trophy Lake Estates project, which includes 59 lots built around three man-made lakes designed for water sport enthusiasts.

The Metropolitan Council estimated that the population of New Germany would grow from 346 to 830 between 2000 and 2020, an increase of 140 percent. The Met Council estimate for the townships also indicates significant growth, including a 27 percent increase for Camden (955 to 1,209) and a 35 percent increase for Hollywood (1,102 to 1,485).

These estimates would mean a combined population increase of 47 percent for these three communities, which although high, is still less than the projected 68 percent growth for the county as a whole during this period.

A new water tower in New Germany is under construction and expected to be complete by fall 2007.

For Mayer, 87 building permits were issued last year, which exceeded the 70 permit estimation by the city staff, mayor, and council members.

“We’ve estimated approximately the same number of permits for this year as we did last year, but in the near future, the permits issued may be closer to between 150 and 200,” City Administrator Luayn Murphy said.

The next phase of Coldwater Crossing in Mayer, on the west side of the city, is presently being negotiated, and will add 33 single family lots.

This sixth addition will extend both Rocky Meadow Lane and Coldwater Crossing to the west, and there are two more possible additions to this development, which would make the total number of building sites 350 when completed, Murphy noted.

Sunset Meadows is a 48-unit town home subdivision that will be located on approximately nine areas of land between Coldwater Crossing and Canary Avenue, north of Carver County Road 30 and west of Highway 25.

“Sunset Meadows is a planned unit development, geared for people such as empty nesters. It has just begun moving dirt and is underway,” Murphy said.