Categories
Tags
- ANJEC
- Affordable Housing
- Alex Staropoli
- American Toad
- Amphibians
- Aquifer Recharge
- Assemblywoman Aura Dunn
- Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions
- Barberry
- Barred Owl
- Bats
- Bill Lynch
- Birds
- Blaine Rothauser
- Buried Valley Aquifer
- CUNY
- Canadian wildfires
- Canoe Brook Reservoir
- Carbon Sequestration
- Chatham Borough
- Chatham Courier
- Chatham Environmental Commission
- Chatham Township
- Chatham Township Environmental Commission
- Commencement
- Community Meeting
- Conservation
- Conservation Sale
- Cool
- Council Meeting
- Councilwoman Rachel Ehrlich
- Daffodil Day
- Daniel Magda
- Davey Resource Group
- Donate
- Donors
- Dr. Douglas Tallamy
- Dr. Sara Webb
- Drew Student
- Drew University
- Drew-Madison Legal Proceeding
- Drinking Water
- Earthsongs
- Ed Lloyd
- Environment New Jersey
- Environmental Achievement Award
- Environmental Group
- Essex County
- Evapotranspiration
- Events
Madison Urges Drew University to Accept Final Offer
Madison Urges Drew University to Accept Final Offer
Total offer valued at $65.1 million
Madison, NJ – September 9, 2024 – In July, after more than two years of negotiations, the Borough of Madison made a final offer valued at more than $65 million. Unfortunately, Drew has not yet accepted that offer. The Borough implores Drew University leadership and its Board of Trustees to accept this offer without delay. While the offer remains on the table, upcoming deadlines for court filings and the potential expiration of grant funds secured for the purchase of the Forest will mean that the offer will be withdrawn as Madison will not fund lost grants with local tax dollars or debt.
The Borough’s comprehensive proposal includes acquiring and preserving approximately 51 acres of forested land, including the Zuck Arboretum, Hepburn Woods, and properties along Glenwild and Green Village Roads. Additionally, the offer allows for residential development on other parts of the Drew campus, consisting of both affordable and market-rate apartments.
Madison has collaborated with various stakeholders, including Federal, State, and County officials, the Friends of the Drew Forest, potential private donors, and the Fair Share Housing Center, to support the forest’s purchase. The Borough continues to negotiate in good faith, as our current offer is, in fact, 30% more than a previous offer made in March 2023.
The Borough extends our gratitude to the Friends of the Drew Forest, the 15,000+ community members who signed the change.org petition, environmental advocates, and various government officials—including Senator Booker, Congresswoman Sherrill, New Jersey Senators Bucco and McKeon, Morris County Commissioners, and members of the Morris County Open Space Committee—who continue to support our efforts. The Borough reaffirms our commitment to protecting the Drew Forest and urges the public to remain engaged in this important cause.
Madison One Step Closer to Receiving Federal Funding to Preserve the Drew Forest
With the recent passing of the House Appropriations Legislation, we are one step closer to receiving $4,116,279.00 in federal grant funding through Community Project Funding thanks to the joint efforts of Congresswoman Sherrill and Senator Booker.
Deja Vu: We Need Your Help Wed., Nov. 8, 8pm in Morristown
Yep, it's time to show up (again) at the Morris County Commissioners meeting, 8 pm at 10 Court St, Morristown. On the agenda: a 6pm organizing dinner at Caffe India.
Madison votes to apply for county grant funding to acquire, preserve Drew Forest
An overflow crowd turned out Monday evening to support a Borough Council vote to apply for Morris County grant funding to acquire the Drew Forest and preserve it into the future.
Sherrill to seek $5M in federal funding for Drew Forest preservation in Madison
MADISON - Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, has submitted a Community Project Funding (CPF) request of $5 million to the House Appropriations Committee to support the preservation of the Drew University Forest Preserve.
Sherrill submitted the request along with 14 other CPF requests for the 11th Congressional District for Fiscal Year 2024, according to a Monday, April 17 statement from the congresswoman’s office. The requests may be included in the text of the 2024 appropriations bill and marked up by the House Appropriations Committee later this year.
4/29 - Madison Green & Clean
The Downtown Development Commission (DDC) is sponsoring "Madison Green & Clean" (formerly known as May Day), a town-wide beautification day with a new focus on Eco-Friendly Initiatives! We hope you will join the fun and help us celebrate this on Saturday,April 29, 2023.
4/19 - EV Expo at Sunday Motor Co.
Come meet the Friends of the Drew Forest!
The EV Expo is returning to Madison on Wednesday, April 19. This event is sponsored by the Environmental Commissions of Madison, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township.
Where does your water come from? Under your feet.
The Drew Forest purifies 71.5 million gallons of water for the Buried Valley Aquifer, which services 31 towns.
Protect Our Water on World Water Day
It’s World Water Day! Have you wondered where YOUR drinking water comes from?
The answer may be —from under your feet— if you live in Madison or one of the 30 other towns that drink water from wells drilled into the Buried Valley Aquifer. These wells produce high-quality inexpensive water from porous glacial sediments that were deposited in valleys that extend like tentacles across parts of Morris, Essex, Somerset, and Union Counties.
With all these towns pumping water out of this aquifer, why hasn’t it been used up?
Madison meeting with conservation group to build Drew Forest funding application
By Alex Parker-Magyar | Madison Eagle
“Borough officials are meeting with a major land conservation agency as they seek funding help to preserve the threatened Drew University Forest Preserve.”
Madison calls for talks with university neighbors to preserve Drew Forest from developers
By William Westhoven | Daily Record
Madison Mayor Robert Conley is once again calling on Drew University officials to meet with him to discuss the preservation of the environmentally sensitive Drew Forest.
Doug Tallamy Calls for Saving the Forest
Red-tailed hawks, winter wonderland and a video by Dr. Douglas Tallamy, a prominent ecologist, that you’ll want to share.
Madison Councilwoman Ehrlich and Friends of the Drew Forest win environmental awards
“For the fifth year in a row, Madison has been singled out among New Jersey’s 564 towns for its environmental leadership.
The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) has honored Borough Councilwoman Rachel Ehrlich with its Municipal Leadership Award, following in the footsteps of Mayor Robert H. Conley, who won in 2021.
In addition, Friends of the Drew Forest is the recipient in the nonprofit category, a result of its ‘exceptional educational awareness campaign,’ according to ANJEC Executive Director Jennifer Coffey.”
Final Decision Not Yet Reached In Madison Affordable Housing Lawsuit
“After hearing the arguments from both parties, Judge Stephan Hansbury declared that the hearing on Aug. 19 would not result in a decision.”
Madison Officials React To Court Win Upholding Affordable Housing Settlement
By Marianne Carillo | TAPintoMadison
“This past Friday, Superior Court Judge Stephan Hansbury ruled in Madison’s favor stating that the Borough’s Affordable Housing settlement should not be overturned. Drew University had sued Madison asking the Court to vacate its 2020 settlement with Fair Share Housing Center.”
Judge won't vacate Madison affordable housing settlement over Drew lawsuit
By Claudia Ceva | Madison Eagle
“The court will not vacate Madison's 2020 affordable housing settlement with the Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC).
Superior Court Judge Stephan Hansbury, during a hearing on Friday, Aug. 19 on the lawsuit filed by Drew University against the borough at the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown, said while he needed more time to reach a final decision, vacating the settlement is officially off the table.”
Judge upholds Madison affordable housing pact in Drew Forest battle
By Kevin Coughlin for Morristown Green
“A judge in Morristown had questions about immunity on Friday, but he wasn’t talking vaccines.”
Six major environmental groups call for Drew Forest preservation in Madison
“Leaders from Environment New Jersey, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, New York/New Jersey Baykeeper, Raritan Headwaters Association and The Watershed Institute signed a Monday, Aug. 8 letter to the Friends of the Drew Forest advocacy group voicing their ‘vociferous support for the full conservation of the entire 53 acres of the Drew University Forest’ on behalf of their organizations.
‘There are many land-use battles across the state, some that are waged with scant environmental evidence,’ the letter reads. ‘This is not one of them, and the double whammy precedent of the potential development of such a unique ecosystem that the Drew University Forest represents along with the actions by the university hoping to cash out one of its most treasured places compel us to action.’
Non-Profit Adds Voice To Madison Affordable Housing Lawsuit
“Friends of the Drew Forest has filed a brief in response to Drew University's motion to overturn Madison's affordable housing settlement.”
Whitcomb, Environmental Heads Encourage Brainstorming At Drew Forest Event
By Tyler Barth for TAPintoMadison
“About 75 residents, including former Councilwoman Astri Baillie, attended the event, where they learned from the Friends of the Drew Forest and Claire Whitcomb of the [Madison] Environmental Commission about what the Forest provides for the region and how the fight to save it is going.”