Welcome to the Citizens for Sensible Development Web Site

NEWS ALERT: Tom Salm, the mayor of North Liberty, has publicly admitted his personal intent to undermine the annexation petitions. Two years ago, when North Liberty hired a new city manager, Salm presented the annexation status not as a project to be completed, but as a problem that needed to go away. He directed the city manager and staff to ignore the petitions already on file and start over 'with a blank map.' There have been no open meetings or public involvement regarding this reversal in North Liberty's position. You can read the mayor's comments online in the March 31 North Liberty Leader... (read the North Liberty Leader article here)

North Liberty Council Meeting Report CSD spoke up for area citizens at the North Liberty City Council meeting on Tuesday March 23. North Liberty Council members listened as local citizens spoke in favor of annexation to North Liberty. The 100% Voluntary annexation proposal now on file with the City Development Board is ready to be untabled and considered for approval (See the map 100% Voluntary annexation here) . All that is necessary is North Liberty's renewed commitment. (See a full meeting report here)   (See the map of Both N.L. annexations here)

North Liberty proposed compromise leaves out citizens. The mayors of Coralville and North Liberty, along with staff, have been discussing a 'compromise' settlement that they feel would be 'benefitial to all parties.' The proposal, which has not been discussed or approved yet in any open Council session, was shared with CSD on March 10. It grants Coralville all of the property they were after with their initial petition and many acres that are part of the North Liberty petition. The proposal completely disregards the wishes expressed by CSD over the past three years. See the Settlement Proposal here. (See the map here)

CSD supported annexation moves to the forefront. In November, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in faver of Oglesby in their case vs. the City of Coralville. CSD has supported the case by Oglesby arguing that the annexation proposal by The City of Coralville failed to properly notify the neighboring landowners. THis court decision is important because it clears the way for North Liberty to proceed with the annexation process. CSD supports North Liberty in this effort. (Read about the judgement here)

Introduction to the Citizens for Sensible Development

In the summer of 2006, the Johnson County residents on the southern end of the North Corridor (an area bounded on the east by the Iowa River, on the south by I-80, on the west by SR 965, and on the north by Mahaffey Bridge Road) organized a not-for-profit group called 'Citizens for Sensible Development' (CSD). The original purpose of CSD was to educate government officials and the general public on issues related to traffic, safety, and sensible development in the North Corridor.

After repeated contact with officials and staff of the County Board of Supervisors, and the Cities of Coralville, and North Liberty, members of CSD grew more and more to feel that they had no representation in any local government. It became clear that the best cure for their disenfranchisement would be annexation to that city which had shown a willingness to listen and to give consideration to the voice of its citizens. For nearly all of the residents in the CSD area, the city of choice was North Liberty.

We support:

• Development projects and road alignments in the North Corridor that allow for growth while minimizing the negative effects on existing neighborhoods.
• Coordination of development with road alignments that take into account the impact of traffic throughout the North Corridor.
• Careful planning for the entire North Corridor, which includes citizen input. Click here to see a map of the North Corridor.

Citizens for Sensible Development
P. O. Box 322
North Liberty, IA 52317
email@citizenssensibledevelopment.org