Roselle Park Mayor Proposes Ordinance Banning Data Center Development

Roselle Park Mayor Joseph Signorello Jr. announced his intention to introduce an ordinance prohibiting data center development within the borough at the upcoming mayor and council meeting. The mayor cited "growing concern from residents" on Facebook, stating that data centers' significant energy demand, noise, and infrastructure requirements are incompatible with Roselle Park's dense, residential character, necessitating a clear statement in the zoning code. This move comes amidst considerable public outcry from residents across Union County, New Jersey, following the approval of a CoreWeave data center project. The CoreWeave facility is being constructed on the former Merck campus in Kenilworth, now known as the Northeast Science and Technology Center (NEST). Residents from Kenilworth and surrounding towns, including Union Township and Roselle Park, expressed that they were not properly notified about the land sale to CoreWeave, which was approved by Kenilworth's borough council in 2025. Although Mayor Signorello plans a community listening session in Roselle Park regarding the Kenilworth data center, Kenilworth borough leaders have stated that the opportunity to halt the CoreWeave project has already passed. The proposed ordinance in Roselle Park reflects a proactive measure to prevent similar developments within its own borders.