Roselle Park Council President Seeks Answers on Kenilworth Data Center

Roselle Park Council President Jay Robaina says he will keep pressing for answers about a data center being built in neighboring Kenilworth. Union County Life reports his remarks from the Thursday, Oct. 15 Borough Council meeting, where he cited unanswered questions about environmental and infrastructure impacts on borough residents.

Robaina said he has been monitoring Kenilworth council meetings, contacting utility providers and seeking information from officials and companies involved in the project, including CoreWeave. “Quite frankly, I’ve been relentless in pushing for answers, and I make no apologies for that,” he said. He represents the Fifth Ward, which borders Kenilworth.

Robaina said he watched Kenilworth’s most recent council meeting, where Roselle Park residents asked whether information about the project had been shared with Kenilworth officials. According to Robaina, the answer was no. He acknowledged that Kenilworth’s mayor noted that Roselle Park does not notify neighboring towns about every development. “But not every development is the same,” he said.

Robaina said a large data center could bring significant electricity and water demand, backup generators, mechanical noise, air emissions and other infrastructure impacts. “Those impacts don’t necessarily stop at the municipal boundary,” he said. “That’s why communication between neighboring communities matters.”

reporting says the borough approved a ban on data centers in June. Robaina said the borough acted early and that more municipalities across the state are now taking up the issue.

Robaina sponsored an earlier resolution, which the council adopted, asking Kenilworth and the companies involved for information. He said he intends to introduce a similar resolution at an upcoming council meeting, supporting three state Senate bills on data center permitting, transparency and environmental impacts.

“At the end of the day, this is about getting answers,” Robaina said. “We may not control what happens in Kenilworth, but we do have a responsibility to stand up for Roselle Park and the people who live here.”

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FAQ

Who is Jay Robaina?
He is Roselle Park’s Council President and represents the Fifth Ward, which borders Kenilworth.

What is Roselle Park asking Kenilworth for?
Robaina says the borough is seeking information about the project’s environmental and infrastructure impacts from Kenilworth officials and the companies involved, including CoreWeave.

Has Roselle Park banned data centers?
According to June reporting, the borough approved a ban on data centers in all zoning districts under Ordinance 2860.