Dallas County has experienced nearly unprecedented growth in recent years, a large portion of which has been driven by rapid population growth and commercial development in the city of Waukee. Now on the heels of the biggest year for growth in the city’s history, Waukee officials are preparing to set the bar even higher in 2006.

“Based upon the subdivisions that are active, ones that have just come online and a couple that we have in the pipeline, we’re prepared and anticipate more growth,” said Jody Gunderson, Waukee’s community development director. Already adding 1,000 residents annually, the city expects its population to surpass the 10,000 mark in 2006.

Developers continue to reap the benefits of the city’s growth. As of last week, Waukee had issued 319 single-family home permits during the year, more than twice the number issued in 2004. In addition, the city issued permits for 135 townhouses, six condominiums, two apartment buildings and 31 commercial units for a total valuation of $109.04 million, far exceeding the total permit valuations of $56.46 million in 2004, $72.85 million in 2003 and $40.96 million in 2002.

“There’s just no indication I can see that it will slow down,” Gunderson said. “If it were, it would be pretty uniform throughout the state or country for that matter. It’s not going to be internal reasons.”

Among the subdivisions planned for next year is Glynn Village, a “conservation community” being developed by Hubbell Realty Co. along Warrior Lane south of University Avenue. Now in the final platting stages, Glynn Village includes lots for 640 single-family houses, as well as several play areas, a pond, a clubhouse and a trail system that connects all corners of the development.

Legacy Pointe, a project by Pella-based Ewing Land Development & Services, is under construction southwest of Northwest 156th Street and Hickman Road and includes 82 single family houses, 104 townhouses, 80 apartments and an independent-living center for seniors. Regency Homes has announced plans for Williams Pointe, located northeast of University Avenue and Alice’s Road, which will include 170 single-family houses, 190 townhouses and 412 condominiums.

John Kline, co-owner of The Oaks Development Co., was in those companies’ shoes less than two years ago, looking at 32 acres of undeveloped land. Now, only about 10 lots remain at the company’s Spyglass subdivision

“Spyglass is 32 acres, but I wish it were 62,” said Kline, who expected it to take up to three years for the subdivision to be built out.

The homes at Spyglass range from the low $300,000 range to well over $600,000, Kline said, which is a step toward achieving the city’s goal of providing homes at all price points. With plenty of entry- and mid-level homes in the city and its surrounding areas, the present demand is for houses that are a step up for families.

“We’ve discovered that when people move to Waukee, they don’t want to leave,” Kline said.

Kline, encouraged by the success of Spyglass and the ease of working with city officials, said he is actively pursuing other parcels of land in Waukee for residential or commercial development.

To maintain the momentum of recent years, Gunderson said the city council “is probably more active now in the capital improvement plan than at any other time in the city’s history.” Much of that activity has been focused on improving Waukee’s parks and trail system – the city purchased Sugar Creek Golf Course earlier this year – to address the quality-of-life needs of its current and future residents.

Waukee has also committed significant time and money to infrastructure improvements, including an Interstate 80 interchange at Alice’s Road. The city recently hired a company to conduct an environmental assessment for the project, and Gunderson hopes to see construction under way in 2007. The city has already planned for the development of a commercial corridor along Alice’s Road leading to the interchange, and several hundred acres are already owned by developers.

“The philosophy that we have adopted is that we prefer to have an idea and be able to plan for increased volume in our transportation corridors as opposed to reacting to them,” Gunderson said.

With Waukee nearing the 10,000-resident milestone, Gunderson hopes to attract employers into the city to further its ability to make it a place for residents to live and work. City officials have been particularly committed to attracting businesses in the financial services sector. A recent study of the city’s available workforce found that a large percentage of its population is employed within that sector, and Gunderson said the city would be particularly aggressive in providing financial incentives to attract those types of businesses.

Though the city doesn’t expect to attract many new businesses in the immediate future, “I have the feeling that in the next couple of years we’re going to see a lot more interest,” Gunderson said.