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JUNE 2005

5. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Economic development issues ranked very high with participants in the Town Meeting. The business friendly atmosphere was the highest-ranking positive quality for the community. In addition, Town Meeting participants expressed concern over the lack of larger businesses in the community for employment and tax base. There was also concern over the limited space for industrial expansion.

Maintaining a proper balance of commercial and industrial uses in relationship with a solid residential base is important to establishing a healthy tax base within the community. The following goals and policies are to serve as a reference for economic development in North Liberty.

5.1 Economic Development Goals:

5.1.1 Maintain and improve the quality and value of North Liberty’s industrial and commercial development.

5.1.2 Existing and established businesses within the City are to be recognized and their needs and interests are to be part of a comprehensive economic development effort.

5.1.3 Preserve and promote local employment opportunities within the City.

5.1.4 Increase North Liberty’s per capita tax capacity by diversifying the tax base.

5.1.5 Attract private sector development through an aggressive program of promotion for commercial and industrial areas in North Liberty.

5.1.6 Capitalize on existing City and area assets and amenities as a means of enhancing the community’s economic viability.

5.1.7 Support economic development programs and projects that maintain and improve North Liberty’s environmental quality.

5.1.8 Utilize public assistance programs, such as tax increment financing, for developments that meet the City’s long range planning objectives and provide an equitable benefit to City investment.

5.2 Economic Development: General Policies

5.2.1 Maintain an open, competitive market where all elements of each sector have a fair and equitable opportunity for participation.

5.2.2 Plan and establish a development pattern which provides suitable efficient and harmonious placement and distribution of land use and transportation activities and which prevent physical blight and decay.

5.2.3 Maintain a stable economy through the establishment of a diversified economic base.

5.2.4 Achieve a balanced supply and demand through the promotion of those economic functions for which there exists sufficient productive resources and available consumer markets.

5.2.5 Continue to maintain and expand the City’s employment base in order to provide both living and working opportunities for North Liberty residents.

5.2.6 The City should work closely with business and higher education organizations on programs to promote job retention and creation in the City.

5.2.7 Promote the establishment of industries and businesses from varied fields and specialties in order to take full advantage of North Liberty’s diverse labor force and to provide a broad based business environment.

5.2.8 Promote economic development projects that assist in the redevelopment and/or restoration of substandard and deteriorating property within the City.

5.2.9 Promote private and public efforts aimed at preserving and restoring properties with historic and cultural significance in the community.

5.3 Economic Development: Tax Base Policies

5.3.1 Continue to maintain and expand the City’s retail, service and industrial tax base to assist in paying for needed services and in reducing tax impact on residential properties.

5.3.2 Aggressively promote and attract new development that will contribute positively to the City’s financial capabilities.

5.3.3 Establish industrial and commercial performance standards to ensure high quality, high valued development.

5.3.4 Preserve property values through code enforcement in order to promote upkeep and maintenance of commercial and industrial areas.

5.3.5 Monitor existing business operations in the City and where appropriate, provide them with assistance for maintenance and expansion of their operations.

5.4 Economic Development: Industrial/Commercial Promotion Policies

5.4.1 Encourage property owners of vacant land to actively pursue development that is consistent with the long range planning objectives of the City.

5.4.2 The City should encourage leadership by the business community for economic development.

5.4.3 Release news stories to local newspapers and applicable real estate periodicals concerning North Liberty planning and development objectives.

5.4.4 Attend inter-community, regional and statewide economic development expositions to disseminate information about North Liberty development opportunities and to solicit development interest.

5.4.5 Maintain a contact person or committee for prospective developers to contact for development information about North Liberty.

5.4.6 Continue supporting a body or group which actively makes contacts with new development interests and follows up and assists where possible in attracting them to the community. Such groups may include North Liberty Development, Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) and Priority One.

5.4.7 Update the accessible database of North Liberty development information for dissemination to perspective developers in conjunction with Priority One and Iowa City Area Development Group. Continue to provide site, building and city information for development areas on the state-wide Location One Information System (LOIS).

5.4.8 Work with business interests presently existing in the City on plans and programs for expansion and enhancement.

5.4.9 Identify and promote economic development which makes full use of recreational market opportunities which result from the area’s natural amenities.

5.4.10 Identify and promote economic development which takes full advantage of market opportunities afforded by the major transportation corridors such as Interstate 380/Saints Highway and Highway 965.

5.4.11 The City should work to retain and attract businesses that are compatible with a clean environment.

5.4.12 The City guidelines for public investment should be supportive of environmental quality as well as economic development.

5.4.13 Utilize tax increment financing as well as any and all public and private programs that are available to assist new and existing businesses in the community.

Tools to Administer Economic Development Goals and Policies

• Comprehensive Plan
• Economic Development Plan
• Zoning Code
• Fringe-area Agreement with Johnson County
• Building Maintenance Code
• Commercial / Industrial Maintenance Code
• Nuisance Ordinance
• Tax Increment Financing
• State and Federal Grant and Loan Opportunities
• Industrial and Commercial Performance Standards
• City’s Website

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