Liberty Plans More Warehouses in Nazareth, PA

by Anthony Salamone, Morning Call
Fresh off approving a controversial massive warehouse project, Lower Nazareth Township supervisors will hear a proposal on Wednesday, Jan. 14, for two more warehouses.

Liberty Property Trust is seeking conditional use for more than 50 acres situated between Nazareth Pike (Route 191) and Daniels Road (Route 946). The developer proposes constructing two warehouse-distribution buildings totaling 525,000 square feet.

The first would be about 225,000 square feet on 23.5 acres, while the second building would cover about 300,000 square feet on slightly more than 23 acres, according to the company's application on file at the township municipal building.

Liberty says in its application that no tenants have been lined up yet, but the company assumes warehousing and distribution will be conducted day and night, seven days a week. The company purchased the property in September 2013 for more than $4.5 million, Northampton County property records show.

The application also shows that the warehouses would contain more than 400 parking spaces and about 150 loading docks.


The proposed Nazareth Pike Warehouse Development would face both routes 191 and 946; the developer plans to build a public loop road that eventually would connect the highways and intersect with Lonat Drive. The site is about 2 miles south of Nazareth.

Efforts were unsuccessful to reach a Liberty Property representative for more information

Last fall, Lower Nazareth supervisors voted 4-1 to grant conditional approval to Industrial Developments International to construct an 822,500-square-foot warehouse distribution facility between Hecktown and Newburg roads. The decision came after supervisors heard concerns from residents of Lower Nazareth and neighboring Palmer Township during 10 public hearings.

Township Manager Timm Tenges said it's too early in the process to say whether Liberty Property's proposal could bring similar apprehension among residents.

"The concerns are always the same regardless of what it is," said Tenges. "The board looks at transportation issues, how the facility may or may not impact the surrounding area …"

Attorney Blake Marles, who represents Industrial Development, said this week that engineers are performing stormwater calculations and design work, with a goal of formally submitting development plans to the township later this winter.