By Alex Parker-Magyar Managing Editor, Madison Eagle

MADISON - The Morris County Board of County Commissioners voted Monday to grant Madison $5 million toward a potential future acquisition of the Drew Forest - a significant amount yet half of what the borough had been asking for.

The Morris County Open Space Trust Fund Committee recommended the $5 million amount, rather than the full $10 million, in part because there is no purchase agreement in place for Drew University to sell the 53-acre forest land to Madison. The university has sought to have the land rezoned and sold to a multi-family housing developer to offset financial troubles.

Commissioner Director John Krickus addressed those appeals toward the start of a roughly one-hour commissioner meeting Monday evening in Morristown.

The $5 million grant, he noted, is "the first and only significant commitment by anyone to preserve this property. The recommendation by the Open Space Trust Fund Committee was presented to our board after careful consideration and review of all aspects of Madison's application, including information developed through the site inspections, as well as written and in-person comments from the public.

"The purpose of having the Open Space Trust Fund Committee review these applications has been to take these decisions out of the political process, which is why the recommendations are always presented to the board after the election. Over the past 30 years our board has never interfered with that process, and we see no need to stray that sound process today."

The commissioner board would vote 7-0 later in the meeting to approve the $5 million grant as recommended by the committee.

Madison hopes to combine the county allocation with some $7.5 million in federal grants being sought by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, plus state, private and municipal funding to ultimately purchase the forest through a conservation sale.

In a statement Tuesday, a Drew University spokesman said it is the university's "strong desire" to sell the Drew Forest to Madison, "so that it can be preserved as it is, and the surrounding community can continue enjoying this beloved natural resource. In order to do so, Drew would need to receive a price reflecting the market value of the land.

"Only by addressing the financial needs of the university can we secure the long-term preservation of this community treasure. We appreciate Morris County’s decision to allocate $5 million toward the purchase and preservation of Drew Forest and will continue to negotiate with the town of Madison in good faith and toward our shared goal.”

Judy Kroll, co-president of the Friends of the Drew Forest and one of about 40 forest advocates and Drew students present at the meeting, addressed the commissioner board Monday.

She thanked the commissioners and trust fund committee for listening to the Friends speak at county meetings throughout the fall, and thanked the residents and elected officials from across Morris County who attended the meetings and spoke on behalf of the forest.

She said she was asked recently how the Friends have mounted such a successful advocacy campaign over the past two years.

"First, we have a very deep love and respect for the forest and an urgency to protect it. Second, we are tenacious as hell. We are the Energizer Bunnies of the Drew Forest," she said. We know conservation takes a long time, we knew it going in, and our supporters know it. So whether you decide to fund the $10 million or not, the Friends of the Drew Forest will continue to grow our support base."