Pere Marquette Township water tower
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Pere Marquette Charter Township Board of Trustees is expected to consider the first reading of a proposed ordinance Tuesday that would establish a one-year moratorium on new data center developments while township officials study how the facilities should be regulated. The proposal is among several items on the board’s agenda for its regular meeting beginning at 4 p.m. at Township Hall, 1699 S. Pere Marquette Highway.
Under the proposed Ordinance No. 162, the township would temporarily halt the permitting, review, approval, construction and installation of data centers for one year, although the moratorium could be extended by board resolution if necessary. Township officials state the current zoning ordinance does not define or regulate data centers, prompting concerns that such facilities could be developed without appropriate local standards.
The proposed ordinance cites concerns over the potential impacts of data centers, including high electrical and water consumption, noise, power generation equipment and battery energy storage systems. Township officials say additional time is needed to study the localized effects of data centers and develop regulations addressing their design, size, location and operation to protect public health, safety and welfare. The ordinance also includes a waiver process that would allow a property owner to seek relief from an extended moratorium if they can demonstrate immediate and irreparable harm.
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