Support Strengthens To Preserve 53-Acre Forest From Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Chatham Township Committee Members unanimously adopted a resolution aiming to preserve Drew Forest at its meeting on Tuesday.

The 53-acre wildlife corridor in neighboring Madison could be at risk to be sold for high density housing.

Members of local groups who spoke at the meeting said it has over 22 acres of protected plants, fenced off from deer. The forest is also a recharge area for the Buried Valley Aquifer, which supports local drinking water. It has additionally become an educational resource, with labeled trees and pollinator plants.

Though only on the agenda as a discussion item, a corresponding resolution was prepared, placed in committee member packets before the meeting, and was ready for adoption, Township Administrator Robert Hoffman told the committee during its meeting.

The resolution supported the preservation idea, but did not state the township would fund the tract’s purchase.

“Who wouldn’t want to preserve a forest?” Committee Member Mark Lois asked. “I’m certainly for it and I definitely would be for this.”

He said the township should also look at its own environmental issues, including a redevelopment project on River Road in Chatham Borough, and its potential impacts to the township.

“I think if we’re going to be talking about neighboring communities, that’s one of the things [environmental issues] we should put on our radar for the future,” he said.

Mayor Ashley Felice echoed Lois’ sentiments about preserving the forest, as well as township's own development, stating, “River Road is in our town, and we want to make sure that’s preserved properly as well.”

Lois suggested the environmental commission address the potential impact of the River Road development on the township.

Among the speakers was Joe Basralian, the chair of the township’s Open Space Committee. He also told the Township Committee that he is a founding member of the Friends of the Drew Forest group. The group has been meeting since May, Basralian said. He discussed how closely connected the forest is to Chatham Township. He said the group is seeking resources including the county trust fund and state Green Acres program, to purchase the land at fair market value from the university to preserve it, with the university having another option to choose from, rather than high density development.

“That way, the university can keep this extremely important forest,” which Basralian said would give "access to it forever and all of the benefits that the forest provides.”

Jessica Romeo, a member of Chatham Township’s Environmental Commission, thanked the Township Committee for adding the discussion to an already robust meeting schedule.

“It’s an important discussion to have,” Romeo said during the public session, “continuing our township’s age-old dedication to environmental issues and preservation.”

“We’ve always served as stewards of our environment and natural resources, and I know that we will continue to do so,” Romeo said.

The Environmental Commission unanimously passed a resolution on Feb. 1 in support of the tract’s purchase, she said.

“We recognize that supporting this rare, intact forest will support Drew University financially, while providing numerous community benefits,” Romeo stated.

Romeo’s young daughter Audrey, who also spoke, told the committee that in school she is learning about deforestation. She had concerns that cutting into the forest would destroy animal habitats. She described a walk she took in the forest with her mother and their dog as "peaceful."

Claire Whitcomb, chair of Madison’s Environmental Commission, also called in to the meeting. She said the forest has some of New Jersey’s oldest trees within it. Whitcomb said forests like it are not readily found in New Jersey, with more in the Catskills and Pennsylvania.

Watch the video below for the full discussion:

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