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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.”
Environment New Jersey: “Protect the Drew Forest”
By Doug O’Malley and Asha Dhakad
ENVIRONMENT NEW JERSEY SAYS: “Drew University, in the North Jersey town of Madison, is not called the “University in the Forest” for nothing. On its property is a 53-acre forest: the Drew Forest. There, you can find some of the oldest trees in the region; you can also find students conducting research for their environmental science classes and visitors enjoying the trails. Unfortunately, the forest is under threat – there is a plan to sell off some of the forest and open it to development. With our allies, we have opposed this plan and called for permanent protection in the form of a “conservation sale” where the land would be sold to a buyer who would conserve rather than develop it.”
Judge’s order a win for both sides in Drew U. vs. Madison affordable housing care
“Madison’s mayor, Robert H. Conley, said borough officials were pleased that the court affirmed the borough’s current affordable housing plan, which includes 44 new units and other projects underway.
‘As stated on multiple occasions, we remain willing to sit with Drew and pursue a solution that saves the Forest and helps Drew with their serious budget shortfalls,’ he said. ‘We will continue to provide affordable housing while also working to preserve the forest, the tree canopy, and the aquifer that we all rely on to provide drinking water for Madison and surrounding communities.’”
LETTER: Does Drew really want to become the school that chopped down its forest?
Alexandra Kiely (C’ 2012) | Madison Eagle
“I am deeply concerned about what the future will hold for Drew if it goes through with this monumentally shortsighted decision. Condemning the forest will define Drew’s reputation for all time, but I don’t think the school has really considered the fallout. The overwhelming majority of colleges and universities across the country are environmentally focused and becoming more so all the time.”
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.”
Forest Preservation Amicus Brief Filed in Drew Lawsuit
In response to Drew University’s motion to overturn Madison’s 2020 affordable housing settlement, Friends of the Drew Forest has filed an amicus or "friend of the court” brief to support the preservation of the entire 53-acre tract of this rare, intact preserve. The case will be heard on August 19 at 11:30AM at Morris County Court House, Courtroom 200, 56 Washington Ave, Morristown. The hearing is open to the public.
“We filed a brief because we wanted to document the exceptional ecosystem value of the forest and to make it clear to all parties that this is an area of regional environmental significance,” says Lydia Chambers, co-chair of Friends of the Drew Forest, a nonprofit based in Madison, NJ.
LETTER: Drew University must listen to students on forest issue
“The importance of the forest is more than just what it can offer financially and the ways in which the president and the Drew administration have handled this process have not been transparent.” - Rachel Papa, Drew University CLA ‘22
Madison Mayor addresses Drew lawsuit at meeting; environmental groups call for forest preservation
By Alex Parker-Magyar
Managing Editor, Madison Eagle
“Mayor Robert Conley took issue with several positions expressed in Drew University's lawsuit against the town at a Borough Council meeting Monday, but said Madison is committed to its relationship with the university.”
NORTH JERSEY GREEN: Drinking water, forests and answers beneath your feet
By Claire Whitcomb for Madison Eagle
“The Drew Forest’s importance to the aquifer is one reason why six towns have passed resolutions supporting a market-value conservation sale that would preserve the Forest for public and educational use. The towns are Madison, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Parsippany, Morris Township and Morristown.”
GSWA Joins Effort to Preserve Drew Forest: Board of Trustees Sign Resolution of Support
“Great Swamp Watershed Association is proud to support this important preservation initiative,” stated Sally Rubin, GSWA Executive Director. “The Drew Forest is an invaluable natural resource that will be lost forever if the Borough is ordered by the court to allow construction and the land is fragmented by development.”
Madison Republican candidates weigh in on Drew University lawsuit, effort to save forest
“Conversing with voters at the Madison Farmers Market on June 30, Lenora Clark and Matt Van Natten, Republican candidates for Borough Council, heard residents’ concerns over the recent legal motion filed by Drew University.
Clark and Van Natten have been vocal supporters of the local efforts to preserve the Drew Forest as Drew seeks to sell some of its vacant land assets, according to a July 6 statement from the Madison Republican Committee.”
Great Swamp Watershed Association Joins Effort to Preserve Drew Forest
“The Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) has become the latest organization to officially join in the efforts to save the Drew Forest from development.
Located on the Drew University campus in Madison, Drew Forest is a 53-acre undeveloped, biodiverse preserve that is home to glacial ponds and some of the oldest trees in Morris County. The forest has been called a living classroom for teaching and research for Drew University students and the wider community.”
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.”
Florham Park filmmaker produces video urging preservation of Drew Forest in Madison
By Alex Parker-Magyar for New Jersey Hills
“A Florham Park man has created a short film documenting the beauty of the Drew University Forest Preserve in Madison – and the destruction he says will follow should the university decide to execute a plan to sell parts of the forest to a housing developer.
The university is considering having parts of the forest rezoned for housing and sold to a builder to help mitigate its ongoing financial troubles. The plan has drawn widespread opposition from students, alumni and area residents, whose Save the Drew Forest advocacy campaign recently drew the curiosity of Florham Park resident Bill Lynch.”
Schiff board urges preservation of Drew Forest in Madison
By Alex Parker-Magyar for New Jersey Hills Media Group
“Another environmental group has thrown its support behind the Save the Drew Forest campaign.
The Schiff Natural Land Trust, steward of the 780-acre Schiff Nature Preserve in the Mendhams, has become the latest group to urge the preservation of the threatened forest preserve on the Drew University campus.”