North Liberty identifies preferred site for second fire station

NORTH LIBERTY — The city of North Liberty is taking the next steps toward establishing a second fire station and a new park.

The North Liberty City Council on Tuesday night gave the green light for city staff to engage in discussions and negotiations with the respective property owners for the two separate projects.

The city council gave unanimous approval on proceeding with acquisition of land for a second fire station. The site is adjacent to the west entrance of Centennial Park and has been referred to as “preferred site two” in previous meetings.

This approval directs city staff to get started. There will be additional steps in the process that will come before council, including information about land appraisal.

The city council last December heard about two locations for the second station but did not take action. Both sites are along St. Andrews Drive and across from Centennial Park.

The site referred to as “preferred site one” is across from the park’s eastern access drive adjacent to Harvest Estates neighborhood. Residents from this neighborhood have voiced concerns about having a fire station near their neighborhood.

City Administrator Ryan Heiar said the second site, which the city is moving forward with, is a “good compromise.”

This site is 300 feet west of site one. With the second site, the closest existing home would be 900 feet away, the city previously said.

Mayor Chris Hoffman said Tuesday the second site makes the most sense.

“It will do more good out there than hindrance, especially to the neighborhood, so I'm really happy that we might possibly have it in this location,” Hoffman said.

Fire Chief Brian Platz previously told The Gazette the station “has to be in the right spot for decades to come,” and that it should be located along St. Andrews Drive.

The North Liberty Fire Department and the city are pursuing a location for a second fire station as the city grows and faces an increased number of calls for service. Among the main priorities is a reduction in response times.

Having the second station on St. Andrews Drive would allow the department to respond quicker to the increased calls from the south and west parts of town, as well as stay ahead of the growth expected in this area. The location would also make it easier to assist the main station on West Cherry Street.

North side community park

The city council on Tuesday voted unanimously to move forward with adding a new park on the north side of town, but with a slightly smaller footprint than previously proposed.

The North Side Community Park project is among the initiatives identified in the city’s 2022-24 goals report.

The city council last year approved plans and allowed the city attorney to begin negotiations with the property owner on acquiring the nearly 45 acres of land. The land — owned by the Meade Family Real Estate Limited Partnership — is located above West Penn Street between N. Jones Boulevard and Highway 965.

City staff identified “an alternative configuration of real estate in the same area which accommodates the city’s future needs as well or better than the previously identified parcels,” Heiar wrote in a memo to the council.

This land includes 41 acres east of North Jones boulevard and does not extend the full distance to Highway 965. This will preserve the area for possible commercial development, which has been a request by the property owner, Heiar wrote.

Gary Streit, a Cedar Rapids attorney representing the Meade family, told the council in November the land “is some of the most valuable potential commercial development property in the city” that would be turned into non-income producing property if it becomes parkland.

The council also unanimously approved a resolution establishing fair market value and just compensation for acquisition of the updated property.

The appraisal determined $2.520 million as just compensation. The city attorney can begin negotiations for the property and could initiate acquisition by condemnation — eminent domain — if negotiations are not successful, according to the resolution.

Comments: (319) 339-3155; izabela.zaluska@thegazette.com