Charlevoix County planners urge townships to prepare for potential data center proposals

Charlevoix County's Planning Commission on March 5 urged townships across the county to prepare guidance on data centers and assess where such facilities might be appropriate.

Planning Director Kiersten Stark told commissioners that statewide groups and the Michigan Townships Association have been circulating information about data centers and that the state legislature is considering a one-year moratorium to give local governments time to review zoning. Commissioner Marshal Bakker said local townships should identify potential sites and that the county should notify them to be ready if proposals arrive.

Bakker and Commissioner Sherm Chamberlain cited two illustrative sites mentioned during the discussion: the Big Rock property and the St. Marys Cement plant. Commissioners noted that siting in northern Michigan benefits from cooler temperatures but raised several planning questions: whether data centers would consume prime farmland, how much heat they would generate and whether that heat could be reused, and whether local rules should limit size or require performance and screening standards.

Chair Nancy Ferguson said a moratorium would provide a useful window for public education and planning. Commissioners agreed to send a letter from the Planning Commission to all local units of government with suggested guidelines and to assemble informational material for township officials. Several commissioners and staff said they planned to share resources from recent webinars and state organizations.

Next steps: Planning staff will prepare draft guidance and resources for review at a future meeting; commissioners encouraged townships to consider local zoning amendments or special-use conditions before major proposals arrive.