Home>Economic Development>Comprehensive Plan Update>Full Text of the Comprehensive Plan>Policy Plan: Natural Environment

JUNE 2005

1. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Environmental awareness was an important issue identified by community representatives during the Town Meeting. The unique environmental setting of North Liberty is an extremely valuable resource, and one of the area’s major recreational and economic amenities. Preservation and protection of these assets is of primary importance to North Liberty and the surrounding area. Environmentally sensitive development will preserve the health and welfare of North Liberty citizens, attract a more diverse economic base and minimize the need for future public investments in clean up or beautification.

Specific target preservation areas include the Iowa River corridor, areas of steep slopes, existing vegetation, and natural drainageways. The policies and provisions of the Comprehensive Plan, as well as the City’s Zoning, Subdivision and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Ordinances, are the vehicles through which North Liberty can protect defined environmentally sensitive areas within the municipal boundaries and surrounding extra-territorial jurisdiction area.

The following goals and policies are intended to address the entire extra territorial jurisdiction area for North Liberty.

1.1 Natural Environment Goals:

1.1.1 Protect all environmentally sensitive areas and unique physical features within the municipal boundaries and the extra territorial jurisdiction area.

1.1.2 Ensure that urban development and agricultural operations are compatible with features of the natural environment and can be accommodated without destroying environmental features and natural amenities.

1.1.3 Recognize the prevalence of prime agricultural lands in the formulation of development strategies.

1.1.4 Maintain and, where feasible, improve the natural and aesthetic quality of the region's water resources.

1.1.5 Protect ground water and soils from contamination and pollution resulting from urban or agricultural uses and correct problems where necessary.

1.1.6 Recognize limiting soil factors with respect to urban development suitability.

1.1.7 Protect areas of significant slopes in order to provide a safe environment and protection of water quality.

1.1.8 Ensure protection of existing forested areas and promote the restoration and planting of additional vegetation.

1.1.9 Provide protection for floodplains, storm drainage areas, and natural habitats within the municipal boundaries and the extra territorial jurisdiction area.

1.1.10 Prevent noise and air pollution and promote recycling and reuse of all resources.

1.1.11 Ensure that land uses adjacent to industrial activities and major highways are compatible with anticipated noise levels and air quality.

1.2 Natural Environment Policies: General

1.2.1 All activities in environmentally sensitive areas shall conform to local and state regulations.

1.2.2 Regulations shall be formulated and/or updated, and enforced in a fair and consistent manner to ensure the proper protection of identified natural resources within the municipal boundary and the surrounding jurisdiction area.

1.2.3 New development and the expansion of existing activities shall be restricted and regulated where environmental damage may result.

1.2.4 The use of concentrated and cluster development concepts shall be encouraged where protection of natural features is important to the community and vital to desirable development.

1.2.5 Where appropriate, environmentally sensitive areas shall be publicly controlled.

1.3 Natural Environment Policies: Prime Farmlands

1.3.1 Regulations shall be developed which manage growth and prevents premature utilization of prime agricultural lands.

1.3.2 Preserve contiguous agricultural lands in the extra-territorial area in order to maintain efficient farming practices, and minimize land use compatibility concerns.

1.3.3 Cluster development in agricultural areas to preserve contiguous farming activities.

1.3.4 Ensure that development within the City-limits is contiguous to existing development.

1.4 Natural Environment Policies: Lake/River Development

1.4.1 Major unique water features (rivers, creeks, and reservoirs) having functional and aesthetic value should be preserved and protected as perpetual community assets through purchase, dedication, protective or scenic easements, and/or the clustering of development to avoid encroachment and destruction of such features.

1.4.2 Integrate new development with the natural characteristics of the land through the preservation of attractive natural amenities (i.e., rivers, lakes, wooded areas, slopes, etc.).

1.5 Natural Environment Policies: Soils/Slopes

1.5.1 In areas of soils that have limitations for development, soil testing shall be performed to identify the soil correction measures necessary to insure safe and quality construction.

1.5.2 Drain tile around building foundations and streets may be required in soil areas characterized by moisture retention, high water tables, or perched water tables.

1.5.3 Sump pumps will be required in dwelling units with basements in all new subdivisions.

1.5.4 Sump pump collection lines, sump pump access to a storm sewer, or an approved drainageway will be required for all new subdivisions with basements.

1.5.5 Erosion control plans shall be required for all site grading to prevent erosion, dust, and soil sedimentation.

1.5.6 Restrict or prohibit development on slopes exceeding 12 percent. In instances where development on steep slopes is permitted, grading and erosion control plans must be provided which prevent erosion, dust, and soil sedimentation.

1.6 Natural Environment Policies: Vegetation

1.6.1 To the extent possible, existing stands of mature trees shall be preserved and protected from future development.

1.6.2 Programs designed to protect trees that are susceptible to disease will be promoted.

1.6.3 The location, type, and condition of existing vegetation shall be indicated in all development requests, and preservation of existing trees should be accomplished, wherever feasible.

1.6.4 New developments within the City and the surrounding jurisdiction area will be required to plant new trees according to City standards, particularly in areas where existing vegetation is removed.

1.6.5 City tree planting programs and plans are to be formulated and an aggressive implementation effort pursued.

1.7 Natural Environment Policies: Storm Water Management/Floodplain

1.7.1 Development within drainageways, floodplains, and other natural features that perform important environmental functions in their natural state, shall be restricted or prohibited.

1.7.2 Soil types associated with drainageways should be protected and preserved in order to channel flowage, control erosion, and prevent flooding.

1.7.3 Natural drainage patterns shall be preserved wherever feasible.

1.7.4 Require all new development to manage all on-site storm water generation on-site or contribute to a regional storm water facility as per the requirements of the City Engineer. This is to ensure that negative impacts will not occur with regard to downstream flooding or water quality.

1.7.5 Require grading and drainage plans as part of any new subdivision, commercial development, or industrial development. These plans must illustrate proposed drainage patterns, erosion control and plans for on-site storm water retention or contribute to a regional storm water facility dependent upon the City Engineer’s recommendations. If the City Engineer determines that the drainage for the development is going to contribute to a regional basin, there is no requirement for a drainage plan.

1.7.6 Continue to utilize the City’s floodplain regulations to regulate floodplain development. The intent of the floodplain regulations is to protect property and public safety from damage due to flooding.

1.7.7 Update floodplain study to establish new 100 year floodplain for the community.

1.8 Natural Environment Policies: Air and Noise Pollution

1.8.1 State and federal pollution regulations shall be incorporated into local policy when appropriate.

1.8.2 In areas of potential noise or air pollution, mitigating design approaches shall be utilized to reduce possible problems.

1.8.3 Programs shall be initiated, promoted, and supported which are aimed at reducing air and noise pollution.

1.9 Natural Environment Policies: Recycling/Solid Waste

1.9.1 Recycling programs that conserve natural resources shall be continued and promoted.

1.9.2 The City shall encourage waste reduction/separation practices to improve solid waste management.

1.9.3 The City shall consider a proposed project’s waste generation potential and methods of waste reduction and material/energy conservation.

1.9.4 Solid waste that may damage the environment shall be treated to make it harmless before land disposal.

1.9.5 Commercial and industrial generators of solid waste shall be encouraged to adopt a program for waste, act voluntarily to evaluate their use of energy and raw materials, reduce consumption where technically and economically feasible, and adopt a program for commercial and industrial area recycling.

Tools to Administer Natural Environment Goals and Policies

• Comprehensive Plan
• Zoning Code
• Subdivision Ordinance
• Floodplain Ordinance
• Sensitive Areas Subdivision Design Standards
• North Liberty Municipal Design Standards
• Fringe-area Agreement with Johnson County

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