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Waterford adopts six-month moratorium on new data centers to study impacts
Summary
The Board unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026‑Z‑003 imposing a six‑month moratorium on applications for new data centers township-wide to allow staff and consultants to draft potential zoning and ordinance changes addressing siting, utilities, water use and other impacts.
Waterford Township trustees on March 23 voted unanimously to impose a temporary six‑month moratorium on applications for new data centers within the township.
The text of Ordinance 2026‑Z‑003 adds a Data Center definition to the Zoning Ordinance and bars acceptance of rezoning, site plan, special-use, building permit and business registration applications for new data center facilities for six months while staff, the Planning Commission and consultants study infrastructure, utility, environmental and land-use impacts and draft possible zoning amendments.
Development Services staff told the Board data centers may include substantial electrical demand, on-site backup generation and fuel storage, cooling systems with high water use, and building massing that could affect surrounding properties and utilities. The moratorium, staff said, preserves the status quo while the township considers whether and how to regulate such facilities.
The moratorium includes a process by which an aggrieved property or business owner may request a hearing if the moratorium would preclude all viable economic use of a property. The ordinance takes effect per the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act timing and was adopted by roll-call vote; the Board also adopted a parallel resolution describing implementation and hearing procedures.
Trustees discussed potential opportunities and concerns regarding data center development but chose a pause to allow a deliberate review of standards and infrastructure capacity before accepting applications.
