Residents press Madison council over Florham Park billboard, emergency access road and Drew Forest protection

Residents and volunteers told the Borough of Madison Council they are concerned a planned electronic billboard in neighboring Florham Park will shine into Madison’s Meadow/Conservation areas, harm wildlife through light pollution, and that a proposed access road could affect local trails and emergency response patterns.

Speakers including Brian Monahan of the Madison Environmental Commission, volunteers working at the Madison MRCC meadow, and artists Margaret Malicek and Molly Polavoy described their ongoing volunteer restoration of the conservation meadow and the meadow’s wildlife value. They asked the council to intervene or seek mitigation because the billboard and its access road are sited close to the Madison property line.

Mayor and council explained that the billboard and access road are on Florham Park property and therefore outside Madison’s direct jurisdiction. The mayor said Florham Park’s planning board has approved the billboard application (staff indicated a planning board vote had been held though a final resolution was not yet issued) and encouraged residents to attend Florham Park meetings and to send letters to Florham Park’s mayor and planning board. The Madison mayor said the borough will work with Florham Park to seek mitigation options (for example, repositioning the sign or time‑of‑day lighting restrictions) and noted the access road was proposed as a joint emergency access improvement to improve eastbound response times.

Why it matters: Residents said the digital billboard would significantly increase nighttime lighting at the meadow and harm nocturnal insects and other wildlife; speakers described documented declines in insects and noted the meadow’s role in groundwater recharge and flood mitigation. Volunteers said the meadow supports pollinators and bird species and that large, constantly lit LED signage can interfere with insect communication and pollination cycles.

Public comments and civic action: Artists Margaret Malicek and Molly Polavoy presented a series of donated art panels and announced proceeds will be donated to Friends of the Drew Forest. Environmental volunteers including Brian Monahan and Kirsten Wallenstein urged council assistance and asked the borough to request repositioning, nighttime dimming or other mitigations from Florham Park. Claire Whitcomb specifically cited light pollution’s harmful effects on insects and fireflies and referenced entomologist Doug Tallamy’s research on insect declines.

Council response and next steps: The mayor acknowledged the borough’s limited regulatory reach over Florham Park’s privately controlled site but said Madison would send a letter to Florham Park’s mayor outlining the community’s concerns and encourage residents to appear at the Florham Park planning board hearing. The mayor suggested time‑of‑day restrictions on the billboard and working with Florham Park to adjust placement as possible. Regarding the access road, the mayor said the road has been discussed as a joint emergency access to improve eastbound emergency response and would likely be used by Madison’s fire and EMT crews as well.

Ending: While Madison cannot unilaterally block development on Florham Park property, the council and residents said they will pursue intermunicipal coordination and public comment to press for mitigations aimed at reducing light and wildlife impacts and to clarify the emergency access design.