Margolis Enterprises owns over 600,000 properties throughout the United States, including the property that surrounds Liberty Lake on two sides. On these properties, Margolis is proposing to build a distribution facility consisting of four warehouses, totaling nearly two million square feet in size. For decades, any attempt to develop this property was thwarted by both state and local officials, as the environmental issues involved (wetlands, endangered species, hydraulics & storm/wastewater) did not allow it. However, the recent economic recession has lead to a loosening of environmental regulations in favor of economic and commercial development.

For Margolis, a “perfect storm” has ensued in which local politicians and state regulators are more willing to work with them by overlooking environmental issues, finding loopholes through DEP red tape, and consulting with the NJ Economic Development Authority (formerly the Governor's Office of Economic Growth) in order to keep this environmentally threatening project afloat.

Here is an Overview of the Margolis Industrial Complex Proposal: 

■ Liberty Lake, (Block 47.01, Lot 10.01) is situated alongside two commercially zoned farmlands owned by Margolis Enterprises. This project lies on both sides of Crafts Creek, a protected State Watershed lying at the center/source of the wetlands area, and is monitored by the local Crafts Creek/Spring Hill Brook Watershed Association.

■ While zoned Commercial ‐ “Laboratory and Manufacturing,” the Camp and Picnic Grove are a long time “Pre‐Existing, Non‐Conforming” use.

Margolis Enterprises is proposing to develop on two distinct property lots within block # 47.01 –

■ One lot (three warehouses, Lot # 9.01, 9.02 and 3.02) is located alongside Rt. 295 and exits onto Florence‐Columbus Rd, just a few feet from the exit to 295. This is an ideal lot for a warehouse project, in terms of being able to enter and exit directly off of Rt. 295.

■ The other proposed lot that will house one giant warehouse (the size of 7 Home Depots), is located just behind Liberty Lake and is sandwiched between two large "Farmland Preservation" sites that are currently active farms.

■ To join the two lots, the developer is proposing to build an approximately 30 ft. high, 500 ft. long bridge, crossing acres of wetlands and environmentally sensitive areas which have been protected for years This bridge will be the only access point to the 900,000 square foot warehouse.

■ It is the belief of many that the developer and those who support this project are being greedy by including the logistically hampered, environmentally sensitive, landlocked parcel by bridging it with the obviously prime warehouse lot which borders 295. We have very few issues with the development next to Rt.295. The issue in dispute is with the 100 acres sandwiched between Liberty Lake and the Hoefling Farm, which jeopardizes the business of Liberty Lake, as well as the environmental integrity of an area that has been enjoyed by thousands of people for over 40 years, and is flourishing more now than ever.

Mansfield Township's elected officials and board members support the proposal wholeheartedly. From their perspective, this is one of the last remaining commercial properties in a town that desperately needs tax revenue. They do not want to "waste" any more farmland with which they cannot benefit from financially. Working in tandem with the developer's lawyers, lobbyists, engineers and consultants, they have been able to accomplish about 90% of what they need to do without the public knowing about it, or being able to comment on it. Moreover, the state regulators they have worked with were, up until recently, unaware of the implications to its neighboring, longtime-existing business (Liberty Lake). The influence of our group- the Camp families, the Corporate/Family picnic patrons, and the Renaissance Faire attendees have helped bring the reality of this project's impact to the forefront of the regulators.

Margolis has received most of the permits and approvals needed to begin construction. However, a water treatment plan (and plant) still needs to be approved. Experts believe that if they get this permit, the project will happen, and if they don’t get it, the project will die. One of the main reasons that this final step has not been achieved is that Mansfield Township has yet to be approved for their local Water Management Plan. This is a state plan that requires municipalities to adhere to the new stormwater and wastewater regulations, which were put into effect in 2004.  Unfortunately for Mansfield Township, they are unable to present a plan that could be approved with the pre-2004 regulations. Given a letter of deficiency [click to read] in July of 2010, Mansfield Township still remains one of the last municipalities in the State of NJ to have a deficient WMP. Why? Good question -- We can't get a good answer!

Click here to learn how the warehouse complex would negatively impact Mansfield Township, Liberty Lake Day Camp and even Margolis Enterprises themselves.

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"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

~Mahatma Gandhi

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