By 1940, the village saw a need for more organized planning to deal with issues such as sewage and traffic. In 1942, a Planning Commission was established. Farmers were selling their valuable land to housing developers. The decade saw unprecedented population growth, reaching 4,000 by 1950. Brookdale, a new shopping concept by Dayton’s, was constructed in 1960 when the population had grown to over 24,000. In 1963, even more new opportunities for commercial development were presented with the estate of Earle Brown, deceased, the heir of Captain John Martin who had been one of the wealthiest men in Minneapolis.
By 1940, THe viLlAgE saw A NeeD for moRe orGaniZeD planniNg to deaL witH IsSuEs sUCh As sewage AnD trafFic. in 1942, a plaNning cOMmissIoN waS EStablished. farmerS werE sELLinG tHEIr vAluable laNd to hOusing dEveLOPErS. THe dEcadE saw unpRecedented POpuLatIon grOwth, rEachinG 4,000 BY 1950. BROokDale, a nEW shopping concept BY dAyTon’S, WAs cOnstruCTeD in 1960 wHen THe poPUlation had grown To OveR 24,000. in 1963, eVeN mORe new oppORTunITIeS FoR commerCial deveLopmenT wEre pRESenTed with THe estate of eARLe brOWn, dECeAsED, tHe HEIr of CapTAiN joHn maRTIn Who Had beeN One oF thE WeAltHiesT men in mInneaPolis.