Menomonee Falls reports busiest year for housing permits and steady economic growth in 2024

Tyler, a planning staff member for the Village of Menomonee Falls, presented the village's 2024 Development and Community Status Report on March 17, saying the community issued more than 1,000 building permits last year and that the village's population is "over 40,000."

The report, Tyler said, showed a record year for residential construction with 43 single-family homes approved (the highest since 2004) and 80 duplex units approved; overall construction value from new construction and remodels exceeded $116 million. "We had over a thousand building permits issued this past year, which is our greatest on record going back 25 years," Tyler said.

That building activity accompanied increases in assessed property values. Tyler said Menomonee Falls' real estate equalized value is about $8 billion and ranks 12th in the state despite a smaller population than other communities on that list. He also noted growth in industrial and commercial investment, including expansions by Alto-Shaam and Wacker Neuysen and new construction in the Falls Business Park.

Why it matters: the volume of permits and new lots approved affect near-term housing supply, municipal infrastructure needs and the village's ability to seek grant funding tied to plans for parks, trails and transportation. Tyler said the village approved preliminary plats and plan commission actions in 2024 that created roughly 166 new single-family lots and that the village currently has more than 250 undeveloped single-family lots available to support future homebuilding.

Key details from the report include: - Population: "It's over 40,000," Tyler said, citing Wisconsin Department of Administration estimates. - Housing and permits: 1,000+ building permits in 2024; 43 single-family homes approved (largest since 2004); 80 duplex units approved; single-family + duplex construction in the region exceeded most Southeast Wisconsin communities except Madison in the year cited. - Construction value: more than $116,000,000 in new construction and remodels in 2024. - Employment and economy: the village hosts more than 30,000 jobs, with manufacturing, education and health care among the largest sectors; Kohl's and the Medical College of Wisconsin remain among top employers. - Industrial activity: 33 industrial projects approved in 2024 totaling about $29,000,000 in estimated construction value; notable expansions included Alto-Shaam (11,000 sq ft infill addition) and other industrial buildings in the Falls Business Park.

Board members who spoke after the presentation praised the report. Trustee Paul Tanna told staff he had seen the material at the Planning Commission and called the presentation informative. Village President Jeremy Wallace and other trustees also thanked Tyler for the overview.

The village staff said the report is available on the village website and that the community survey that informed long-range planning drew more than 2,700 responses. Tyler said the village is updating two long-range plans: the comprehensive outdoor recreation plan (five-year) and the 10-year comprehensive plan required by state statute; those planning processes will continue into 2025.

Looking ahead, Tyler said the village was off to another strong start in 2025, with 38 single-family permits issued in the first two months and additional industrial and retail projects in the pipeline. "We're on pace to have another big year for single-family housing for sure," he said.

The presentation and report provide the village board and the public with the metrics staff will use when considering infrastructure and policy decisions tied to growth, such as road projects, park improvements and developer review.