North Liberty asking residents to look ahead to 2040

NORTH LIBERTY — The city of North Liberty is asking its residents to picture what they want the city to look like two decades from now.

Last month, the city launched a yearlong effort — “Connected to Tomorrow” — to gather public input and build a vision for the city in 2040. Residents can get involved by taking a survey or participating in an interactive opportunity on Wednesday.

City planners and staff will host a facilitated exercise with RDG Planning and Design, a Des Moines-based firm helping with the project. The exercise will begin at 6 p.m. It was previously going to be held in person but has moved to online.

Those interested in participating in the virtual presentation and input session through Zoom can register online.

“North Liberty has a tremendous opportunity to shape its future,” Ryan Rusnak, the city’s planning director, said in a news release.

Rusnak said the city’s growth “sets the stage for intentional planning” in the coming years. North Liberty grew by 53 percent in the past 10 years, according to the 2020 census — from 13,374 residents in 2010 to 20,479 residents in 2020. That is an increase of 7,105 residents.

The last time the city updated its comprehensive plan was in 2013. The city’s comprehensive plan helps guide the city’s decisions, including with economic development and growth.

In the last nearly 10 years, the city has seen new neighborhoods and parks, improved transportation and the start of a new health care campus, according to the city.

Connected to Tomorrow will help the city build a new comprehensive plan that will work to turn ideas into a reality, the city said.

Residents are invited to take an online survey about their priorities and suggestions for the city at northlibertyiowa.org/connectedtotomorrow. The survey also can be taken at the Community Center, 520 W Cherry St., and City Hall, 3 Quail Creek Circle.

The survey will be open through February.

Residents also can submit their ideas on the city’s interactive map, which is also on the project’s website. Residents can comment both ideas and concerns. As of early January, there were about 40 ideas already posted.

A number of the suggestions focused on street infrastructure. Among the other suggestions were promoting electric vehicle charging stations, creating a skate park and adding parks to different parts of town.

“Hearing ideas from all corners of the community is a critical component of us building a successful plan for the next 20 years,” Rusnak said.

Looking ahead, a timeline on the project’s website shows a presentation to the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled for June to share progress about the plan and engagement. An open house is scheduled in October with a draft plan for public review anticipated in November.

More information about Connected to Tomorrow, as well as how to get involved, can be found at northlibertyiowa.org/connectedtotomorrow.

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