Canton trustees impose 12‑month moratorium on new data centers as officials study local impacts

The Charter Township of Canton Board of Trustees on a voice vote adopted a 12‑month moratorium on the establishment or approval of new data centers, data processing centers and similar computer facilities in the township, citing concerns about potential impacts on water supply, energy use, noise and other community resources.

Deputy Supervisor (name not stated) told the board the measure is a response to an increasing number of approaches to Michigan communities by large technology companies and is designed to give township staff and the Planning Commission time to study whether local ordinances should be amended. "As we've seen in many other communities, there is a fairly aggressive push in Michigan right now, by large technology companies, to acquire land and establish data centers," the deputy supervisor said. "This has definitely become an issue of great concern in many communities."

The resolution (2026‑11) prohibits the township from accepting, reviewing or approving applications for zoning compliance, special land use, or site plans for data centers during the moratorium. It directs the Planning Commission, in consultation with municipal services staff and legal counsel, to study current zoning and propose amendments that address impacts on water supply and discharge, noise, air quality, utility services, energy usage, the natural environment and the local and regional economy. The moratorium automatically expires 12 months after its effective date unless the board takes further action.

A trustee who identified only as Trustee (not by name in the transcript) argued for regional coordination, warning of cross‑jurisdictional resource pressure from large facilities. "These data centers are being built preemptively... and we all know how much of the resources that these data centers are going to be needing in terms of water and electricity," the trustee said, urging cooperation with neighboring communities.

The resolution includes a narrow appeals pathway allowing the board to grant exceptions if an applicant can show an exemption would not threaten the township's health, safety or welfare. Existing, lawfully approved data centers are not affected provided they do not expand.

Next steps: township staff and the Planning Commission will undertake the study called for by the resolution and return recommendations to the board; the moratorium remains in effect while the review proceeds.