The Berlin Township Planning Commission tabled voting on a proposed data center ordinance at its meeting on Monday night, March 16.
Planning Commission Chairman Steve Tallman said they will be take into consideration concerns expressed by residents during public comment and work on a new draft with the data center subcommittee. After that, the draft will go to the township board for approval.
“They’re going to be the final say,” Tallman explained. “We just recommend to the board.”
Public comment lasted nearly an hour as residents from both Berlin and Frenchtown townships stepped up to the podium to speak on a decision that would affect both their communities. Common concerns included health and safety concerns regarding Niedermeier Elementary School, which would be near the proposed data center. There were also concerns about the language of the ordinance and how it might be bypassed by data center companies.
“I would just really look at this through the lens, when you’re reviewing this ordinance, of a multibillion-dollar company that’s going to come into your township and take advantage of your township as much as humanly possible,” said Frenchtown Township resident Sarah Alcenius. “You want to make sure it is airtight.”
The commission was also commended for listening to the public.
“We don’t always get that in our township,” said Kim Giarmo, another Frenchtown Township resident. “We get one of them just scrolling on her phone instead, so thank you.”
Despite the cold, windy weather, residents of both townships gathered outside the building to protest data centers before the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
The planning commission’s next meeting is set for April 20.
— Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Berlin Township tables data center ordinance after resident concerns
Reporting by Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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