Commission weighs county model data‑center ordinance and whether to study or impose moratorium

Township planner Troy alerted the commission to a 20‑page Livingston County draft model ordinance addressing data centers (noise, water, siting and other standards) and asked if the commission wanted additional information or study. Several commissioners suggested researching the issue and possible moratoria; staff cautioned moratoria must be time‑limited and defensible in court and recommended gathering more information before acting.

Commissioners debated the township's land supply and zoning categories that could accommodate data centers, noting that recent projects elsewhere have varied drastically in scale. One commissioner cited a December 2025 Southfield approval described in meeting discussion as "a $1,500,000,000 data center approved, on 12.9 acres just this past December," underscoring that such facilities can be built on parcels much smaller than some expect. The commission asked staff to gather examples, zoning language and case studies so members could better understand options before deciding whether to pursue a moratorium or ordinance amendments.