Board adopts six‑month moratorium on data‑center permits, creates trustee subcommittee
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Summary
Cascade Charter Township Trustees voted to adopt an amended temporary moratorium on issuance of permits, licenses or approvals for data centers for an initial six months (with board authority to extend up to six additional months) and appointed a three‑member trustee subcommittee to perform fact‑finding for zoning amendments.
Cascade Charter Township trustees voted on Feb. 25 to adopt a temporary moratorium on approvals for data centers and to form a trustee subcommittee to gather facts and recommend zoning language.
Trustee Nordhook moved to amend the packet resolution so the initial moratorium would run for six months; Trustee Rizzi supported the motion. Nordhook told the board, “I'll make a motion to approve the temporary moratorium for 6 months so that we can have a committee work on a fact finding truth to present to the planning commission.” The board approved the amended resolution on a roll call vote.
Manager Smith told trustees the moratorium is intended to pause permit and approval activity while the planning commission and board complete regulatory language. Smith said the moratorium would give the township “time to work through that process” and to protect the community should applications arrive before zoning amendments are in place.
Trustees debated the period length. The packet language had proposed a 12‑month term with the option to extend by resolution for up to six additional months; a trustee noted the wording in section 4 that the term “will remain in effect for 12 months following the effective date of the ordinance or until data center regulatory amendments to the township zoning ordinance become effective, whichever occurs first,” and that the board “may, by resolution, extend the moratorium as appropriate up to an additional 6 months.” After discussion the board agreed to an initial six months while retaining the board’s ability to extend.
The trustees also approved a motion to create a three‑member board subcommittee to perform the fact‑finding work and prepare materials for the planning commission. The subcommittee was appointed as trustees Shipley, Nordyke and Nordhook; the board specified that staff and legal counsel will support the committee but the subcommittee’s members are three trustees. The board’s action instructed the subcommittee to examine issues raised by residents and trustees, including water use, noise, setbacks from residential properties, potential emissions and other siting conditions.
The resolution vote was recorded by roll call and the board carried the motion. The trustees directed that the subcommittee report back to the board and to the planning commission with draft recommendations to inform any zoning amendments.
