I also encounter the same problem. The jbpm.console.properties file is opened several(hundred - in my case) times. I'm using the rest interface /new_instance for creating processes.
Here is the output of lsof in linux on my test machine:
java 20815 root 966r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 967r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 968r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 969r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 970r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 971r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 972r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 973r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 974r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 975r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 976r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 977r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 978r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 979r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 980r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 981r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 982r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 983r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 984r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 985r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 986r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 987r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 988r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 989r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 990r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 991r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 992r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 993r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 994r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 995r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 996r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 997r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 998r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 999r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 1000r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 1001r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 1002r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 1003r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 1004r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 1005r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 1006r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes/jbpm.console.properties
java 20815 root 1007r REG 8,17 363 2425414 /opt/jbpm/jboss-as-7.0.2.Final/standalone/tmp/vfs/temp93689ccb9642ad01/jbpm-gwt-console-server.war-708c889cebe9e63b/WEB-INF/classes