Residents press committee for transparency on developer ownership, zoning and environmental risks

Multiple residents used the public‑comment portion of the Sept. 17 meeting to press for greater transparency about ownership of the Kenview/199 Grandview Road site and to push the township to prioritize preservation over redevelopment. Lloyd Fernandez said public records list multiple LLCs and managing members rather than Econ Development as owner and asked the committee to verify ownership before proceeding: "Econ development does not show on public record as the owner of the property," he said.

Environmental and historic‑preservation groups also addressed the committee. Laurie Cleveland of the Sorrowland Conservancy thanked the committee for its data‑center ban and urged preservation of the Saralen Mountain headwater streams, warning of regional water impacts: "Data centers are among the most water and power intensive land uses there is." Several speakers urged exploring repurposing the IM Pei campus for cultural, educational or health uses instead of housing or industrial redevelopment. The township attorney and mayor responded to questions about the accuracy of a reported $300,000,000 lawsuit figure and described next procedural steps for the planning‑board study.