Residents Press Planning Commission to Strengthen Data Center Ordinance, Extend Moratorium

SOLON TOWNSHIP — The air inside Frost Creek Church was warm and stuffy Wednesday night, and so was the mood as the ongoing discussion surrounding data centers continued.

Nearly 400 residents packed the sanctuary June 24 for a public hearing on Draft Five of Solon Township’s proposed data center zoning ordinance. Every seat was filled and dozens of others lined the wall, fanning themselves with agendas. The line for public comment stretched long as neighbors waited their turn to address the Planning Commission.

Although no formal data center application has been submitted, residents made clear they believe the ordinance under consideration could determine the township’s future. Many argued the current draft is not strong enough to protect Solon Township’s rural character, water resources and long term public health.

Concerns ranged from groundwater depletion to electrical grid strain, wastewater discharge, thermal and heat dissipation and noise pollution that is not clearly addressed in the draft language. Several residents asked who would conduct inspections and whether the township has the capacity to oversee a facility of that scale.

One recurring question centered on acreage, with some residents highlighting what they viewed as an inconsistency in the township’s approach to large-scale development. They noted that the township previously adopted an ordinance limiting solar fields to 200 acres, reflecting what many described at the time as a cautious or negative stance toward utility-scale solar. In contrast, they said, discussion of a potential 800-acre data center site appeared to carry a far more welcoming tone, some even claiming the ordinance is written in a way so as to invite data centers.

Others questioned changes in earlier drafts involving building heights and objected to provisions that would allow the Zoning Board of Appeals to override certain zoning restrictions.

“If this thing gets built, we need the most restrictions possible,” one resident said, drawing loud applause.

Environmental concerns were at the top of the list for some residents. Doug Shultz, who identified himself as both a township resident and the new board president of the Rogue River Watershed Partners, said Solon Township is blessed with cold water streams that sustain brook and brown trout populations.

“I’m concerned a data center would degrade the quality of these streams,” Shultz said.

The discussion occasionally grew heated and applause frequently broke out between comments, though one resident and co-owner of Thermal Tec, Linda Blanchard, stated, now is the time for unity rather than anger.

"I think it's important that we don't blame, we don't throw anger, we need to focus on solutions," Blanchard said. "We need to stand together, we need to support each other, and we need the anger to stop on all sides," she continued.

Dominating most of the night were residents urging the township to extend its current moratorium on data centers, which is set to expire in early August, arguing more time is needed to craft what they called a legally defensible and highly protective ordinance.

Speaking to The Bugle after the meeting, Courtland Township Trustee and state representative hopeful Rachel Crowther said lawmakers in Lansing are already discussing potential data center regulations.

“We have bills in the house and the senate, and if we can buy some more time, maybe this conversation will get to Lansing and we can actually have something [regulating data centers],” Crowther said.

Some residents turned their focus to Township Attorney Ross Leisman and whether he has a conflict of interest due to what residents are calling "investment ties" to The Right Place LLC, the economic development organization that first approached Solon Township about a potential data center site. Residents questioned whether the township can receive impartial legal guidance and ordinance drafting if its attorney has financial connections to the group helping drive the project. Leisman declined to comment on any ties that may be had to The Right Place.

When asked after the meeting whether they believe Draft Five is robust enough to protect township residents, Planning Commission members also declined to comment.

After nearly three hours of public comment, the Planning Commission voted to table further discussion of the ordinance until its July meeting.

As the crowd filtered out, one theme remained clear. Whether or not a formal proposal ever materializes, many Solon Township residents believe the fight over how, or if, data centers fit into their rural community is far from over.