Kenilworth planning board memorializes Corweave subdivision as residents raise transparency and safety concerns

The Kenilworth Planning Board voted to memorialize a prior April decision approving a major subdivision for Corweave, Inc. at 2000 Galapan Hill Road (block 181, lot 1.02), creating four parcels from an existing roughly 35.9‑acre lot, the board said during its public meeting.

The action, introduced by Chair Mr. DeMarco, formalized a plan revised March 3, 2026, and followed testimony and professional comments provided at the April hearing. The board took a roll‑call vote to approve the memorializing resolution.

The vote came before an extended public comment period in which residents raised objections and asked the borough and developers for broader disclosure. “There is nothing routine about expanding a 40‑megawatt data center five‑fold,” said a resident, identified in the record as Annette from Cranford, who urged the board to consider cumulative infrastructure and environmental impacts rather than review the project in piecemeal applications.

Multiple commenters said they were concerned that the project had been presented to the board one application at a time (substation, building conversion, subdivision), making it difficult for the public to evaluate the combined effects on traffic, power demand, noise and emergency services. Another speaker cited public records indicating the company has described plans to expand beyond the presently converted building and urged the council to require a single comprehensive submission.

Residents also asked about referenced nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) appearing in the public record and whether any municipal officials had signed confidentiality agreements. Board professionals present stated that planning board contractors were not presented NDAs for this proceeding and that such documents and redevelopment agreements are matters typically handled by council and redevelopment authorities — not by the board during quasi‑judicial hearings.

Several speakers raised emergency‑response concerns after reports of generator testing at a nearby data center, asking whether volunteer fire and emergency services are equipped for large fires or prolonged generator operations. “A walk‑through is not training,” one commenter said, urging multi‑agency planning with surrounding municipalities.

The board did not reopen the prior substantive deliberation on the subdivision at length and memorialized the April action as the formal record of that vote. Members acknowledged the public concerns and noted that subsequent applications and any material changes to site plans would come back before the board for review.

The meeting record shows the board approved the memorializing resolution for the Corweave subdivision; residents asked both the council and planning board to provide fuller documentation of prior applications and any redevelopment agreements so the public can review the project's full scope.