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Council hears questions about proposed nearby data centers; staff to evaluate zoning, water and noise implications
Summary
Council members raised concerns about a large data center project planned near the area (water use, recycled closed‑loop claims, noise, power demands and security risks). Interim manager and city attorney will pursue zoning clarifications, sample ordinances and consider moratoria or targeted regulation to allow the city to shape installations if/when proposals arrive.
Council shared extensive community concerns about proposed data center development in the nearby region and asked staff to move quickly to clarify zoning and mitigation options.
Council members described issues raised by residents and neighboring communities: potential strain on power distribution and an 8–10% increase in local power rates reported in articles about similar facilities; water usage estimates ranging in cited industry figures from hundreds of thousands of gallons per day for large centers; closed‑loop cooling claims and the need to verify makeup water requirements; and noise from 24/7 mechanical systems including backup generators and battery installations. One council member noted a referenced Lyon Township proposal of roughly 1.8 million square feet to illustrate scale.
Manager Doug Bakke said he would meet with city attorney staff and has sample ordinances from nearby municipalities (e.g., Northville/Plymouth area) and that some communities have adopted moratoria to study the issue. The mayor and other members urged proactive regulation to specify allowable sizes, required setbacks, noise limits and bonding/mitigation measures rather than trying to react after an application arrives.
No zoning decision or moratorium was adopted at the meeting; staff committed to follow up with the attorney and report back quickly.
