Residents press Kenilworth council to pause CoreWeave data center; council points to planning and permits

More than a hundred residents filled the council chamber to press elected officials over a proposed CoreWeave hyperscale data center on the former Merc property, raising questions about environmental study records, permit status, emergency incidents and how the borough negotiated protections for neighbors.

Courtney Spedaro, a homeowner at 366 Maplewood Avenue, told the council she and many neighbors oppose placing a hyperscale facility “in our backyard,” saying the project threatens property values, air and water and asking, “Is it worth the risk?”

Not all speakers opposed the project. Tim McConnell, a 37-year resident and trade representative, said the site’s redevelopment could restore a lost tax base and bring jobs, noting that when Merc left the borough it cost the town an estimated $9.7 million in annual property-tax revenue and that the developer projects roughly 140 permanent jobs. “This project gives Kenilworth a chance to recover a major tax base,” he said.

Several speakers requested clear public records. Jordan Pano and engineering student Vagal said they could not find planning, environmental or permit documents online and urged the borough to post all applications and impact studies. Vagal told the council that while developers often describe closed-loop cooling systems as recycling water, “you cannot completely recycle this,” and that some makeup water is technically unavoidable.

Residents also described a May 8 site incident. Emma Newberger said an explosion at the old Merc site produced “pitch black smoke” and shook houses; later the fire chief characterized the event as a turbine malfunction at an existing power plant rather than an operating-data-center fire.

Multiple speakers urged the borough to require independent third‑party review of infrastructure and environmental impacts, stronger monitoring, local hiring and a decommissioning or remediation bond so the town would not be left with derelict facilities if a developer fails.

Mayor Linda Carlo and council members repeatedly pointed residents to the planning board and related public-record processes for many technical permitting details. Council members said they are reviewing risks and benefits and that some approvals lie with the planning board or state agencies; the mayor said the borough will organize a public forum with CoreWeave that will be announced soon.

Several callers also asked whether a redeveloper designation had lapsed; Christine Bennett said the designation lapsed April 13, 2026 and asked whether the council could amend the redevelopment plan to prohibit data centers. Borough attorneys and staff responded that amendments and legal questions would be addressed through the appropriate procedures and that the borough has sought to follow the law on redevelopment steps.

The meeting ended without the council taking new formal action on the data center during this session; council members said they will continue reviewing documents, consult counsel and publish available materials for public review. The mayor repeated that a separate public forum with CoreWeave will be scheduled to allow more direct questions and answers.