Planning commission backs one‑year moratorium on data centers, urges stakeholder task force

The Kalamazoo City Planning Commission voted unanimously Sept. 3 to recommend that the City Commission adopt a zoning text amendment placing a one‑year moratorium on new data centers, battery energy storage systems (BESS), cryptocurrency‑mining operations and similar high‑energy facilities. The recommendation asks city staff to undertake a study of environmental, infrastructure and public‑safety impacts and to convene a cross‑functional task force of technical experts, utilities, developers, environmental groups and neighboring jurisdictions to shape permanent standards.

City planning staff member Bobby said the moratorium would be codified in Chapter 50, Article 4.1 of the zoning ordinance and would bar approval of new data‑center uses and substantial expansions while staff researches impacts such as drinking water demand, wastewater processing, illumination and noise, hazardous‑materials handling, building scale, setbacks and emergency response. "On August 17, the city commission passed a resolution that placed a moratorium…on the acceptance and or processing of applications for data centers, battery energy storage systems, cryptocurrency mining centers, and artificial intelligence or AI data centers within the city of Kalamazoo," Bobby said during the presentation.

Commissioners pressed staff on scope and timing, asking whether any applications were currently pending (staff answered none were) and how the moratorium would treat smaller installations or projects on institutional properties such as Western Michigan University. City legal counsel cautioned the commission to study constitutional takings risks under the Fifth Amendment and Michigan law before enacting permanent restrictions. "If you are enacting any zoning...that is restricting or eliminating development of property, you have to be very careful that that doesn't constitute a taking," counsel said in the hearing.

Public commenters urged both the moratorium and broad stakeholder engagement. Resident Katie Bloom recommended forming a task force representing "all the sides" — utilities, environmentalists, developers and the public — to inform the ordinance. The planning commission’s recommendation, with task‑force language, will go to the City Commission and is scheduled to appear on the Sept. 21 City Commission agenda for a public hearing and vote.

Action taken: the planning commission moved to recommend the zoning amendment (motion made by a planning commissioner and seconded by Commissioner Audette Baumann) and approved the recommendation in a unanimous roll‑call vote. The commission called the roll and announced the motion passed unanimously.