The city’s population could grow by as much as 7,200 over the next 16 years once all available land is annexed and developed, according to a recent staff forecast.
The population projection, based on a formula factoring what kind of development is planned and how many people are expected to live in it, exceeds a similar forecast from the regional Northern Illinois Plan Commission by nearly 5,000 people.
“Their (commission) knowledge is not as focused as ours,” said Batavia city engineer Ted Bergeson. “We’re much more aware of what kind of development is occurring here.”
A 1990 commission population study for northern Illinois predicted Batavia’s population would be 23,581 by the year 2010. The staff study, released to city officials this week, shows the 2010 population more likely to be about 28,500.
A special census conducted last summer counted about 20,300 residents in Batavia. Bergeson said the population has probably grown by another 1,000 since then.
Since January, the city has issued building permits for 108 single-family housing units. Bergeson said his department expects that number to double by the end of the year.
Although every area of the city still has room to grow, the biggest population boom is expected to occur west of Randall Road and in the southeast part of town. The staff study found those areas could grow by 2,630 and 2,551 people respectively, based on the amount of developable land.
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