HOWELL TWP. — After hours of public comment, a proposed data center from a Fortune 100 technology company on over 1,000 acres of land failed to earn a recommendation from the Howell Township Planning Commission.
The project, which developers believe could bring millions of tax dollars into Livingston County, was considered by commissioners Sept. 23 in an hourslong meeting at Howell High School that lasted into the early morning hours of Sept. 24.
Scores of concerned community members spoke during the meeting, including a handful of children. Some carried signs opposing the development.
Officials were asked to consider recommending both an ordinance change that would define data centers and a rezoning request for numerous parcels east of Handy Township along Marr Road, Fleming Road, Warner Road and Owosso Road.
The conditional rezoning request came from Stantec Consulting Michigan and Randee LLC, which hope to combine and develop the parcels into a single-story data processing facility, including offices, data centers and infrastructure.
All commissioners voted no, although Wayne Williams was absent.
The vote doesn’t, however, mean the data center has failed. Officials reminded audience members the Livingston County Planning Commission has 30 days to make a recommendation to the Howell Township Board, which is responsible for making a final decision.
Jack Ammerman with Stantec Consulting said plans are preliminary, but assured residents that developers don’t plan to increase the local cost of electricity, will keep noise levels at or below 55 decibels, and will implement at least 100 feet of setbacks while also keeping “a significant portion” of the project as green space.
“When we look at projects like this, we evaluate every site thoroughly,” Ammerman said. “We’re just starting the process and have a lot to work on the design side and … with the regulators.”
The identity of the Fortune 100 company wasn’t shared and won’t be disclosed until the “approval process is complete and a final investment decision has been made, typically just before project groundbreaking,” according to the meeting packet.
Tayla Vance of Marion Township said she refuses to “watch (the) community get sold off by a shiny sales pitch.”
“If this is such a blessing, then why the secrecy?” she asked during public comment. “Why are we being asked to gamble our water, our roads, our peace and our property values on a deal we can’t even see clearly?”
Ammerman said the anonymity of the project is an “industry standard” that many companies behind data centers use.
Concerns voiced by residents included property values, noise levels, infrastructure and environmental impacts, including electricity and water use.
“We create master plans for a reason,” said Angela Barbash. “We must preserve our rural character. It’s why everyone chose to live here, and I please implore you to pass the messages on to your fellow leaders, and know that we’ll all continue to show up at every single hearing.”
Debra Towles of Genoa Township described the center as a “monstrosity” and said “there’s been a lack of transparency, which has now led to mistrust.”
“We all recognize this project could bring some benefits like tax revenue and temporary construction jobs,” she said. “However, I also have serious concerns about the long-term impact on the community’s resources, character and quality of life.”
During deliberations, Commissioners Tim Boal, Mike Newstead and Chuck Frantjeskos said they couldn’t move past the center not fitting into the municipality’s master plan.
“All of us here on this planning commission are first and foremost residents of this township,” Frantjeskos said. “Every one of us is a part of this community, and we have the exact same concerns you do.”
While officials received various letters from supporters before the meeting, including those who’ve agreed to sell their land, only a handful of people spoke in favor during the meeting.
Ryan Van Gilder, who agreed to consider selling his land for the project, previously sent a letter in support to commissioners.
“What made us open to this conversation were the extraordinary benefits this project brings to our entire community. This is not just another development — it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to welcome one of the largest and most respected companies in the world to our hometown. The scale of this investment is unprecedented: more than a billion dollars poured directly into Livingston County.
“For our municipalities, this project provides resources they’ve never had before — tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue to strengthen schools, improve roads, and support fire and police. It means a stronger financial foundation for local government to serve residents without asking taxpayers to carry the entire burden. For small businesses, it means the chance to grow and thrive in a more stable local economy.”
Van Gilder said much of the opposition he’s heard “is (based on) misinformation, fueled by a small group of neighbors worried about their property values.”
Did the board violate OMA when relocating?
Shortly before the meeting, expected attendance prompted officials to relocate proceedings from Howell Township Hall to the auditorium at Howell High School. Though the meeting began at the noticed location before commissioners motioned to move and reconvene in 30 minutes, residents on-site argued the last-minute change was a violation of the Michigan Open Meetings Act.
Denise Pollicella, an attorney from Genoa Township, spoke on the matter during public comment.
“A change in venue is, by definition, a rescheduling of a public meeting … and requires at least 18 hours of notice,” she said. “I think this hearing should happen, but I think it has to happen in a way that’s lawful and in compliance. … Everything that happens tonight will be challenged in court.”
Prior to relocating, municipal attorney Chris Patterson spoke to attendees at Howell Township Hall, saying OMA “permits” such a relocation without 18 hours of notice.
What does the applicant say about resident concerns?
According to the applicant, noise and lighting mitigation strategies are already being considered, and developers are committed to covering all infrastructure costs necessary to support the project — including roadway, water, wastewater, fiber and electrical, to ensure the community isn’t financially burdened.
The applicant also intends to implement water efficient and sustainability practices, including recycling water through cooling systems before discharge, landscaping with native vegetation to reduce irrigation needs, and capturing rainwater on-site. In keeping with local concerns about large-scale solar or wind energy projects, developers are also committed to keeping both off the site.
The complex, according to the meeting packet, would make the unidentified technology company the largest taxpayer in Livingston County after the first phase of construction. Long-term, developers said, the center would likely contribute more than several of the region’s largest taxpayers combined.
The project would also create hundreds of jobs, according to the meeting packet, from technicians to administrative support to project and tech managers. The company’s annual grants program would provide direct funding to schools, nonprofits and community organizations.
Lee Graham, executive director of the Operating Engineers 324 Labor Management Education Committee, spoke in favor Sept. 23.
“The skill trades offer life-changing, family-supporting careers,” he said. “Projects like this proposed data center are how we keep those opportunities alive.”
The Howell Township Board of Trustees next meets Oct. 12.
— Contact reporter Makayla Coffee at mcoffee@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Planners shoot down data center in Howell Township, but they don’t make the final call
Reporting by Makayla Coffee, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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