## A hearing with statewide stakes

The Grandville Planning Commission held a public hearing Wednesday evening on two ordinance amendments that could reshape how the city handles major industrial development. The first addresses data centers. The second tackles commercial vehicle parking in residential areas.

The data center amendment comes as Microsoft has revealed plans for data center campuses in neighboring Lowell Township and Dorr Township, both in Kent County. The tech giant purchased nearly 272 acres in Dorr Township in 2024 for more than $48 million and has expressed interest in acquiring 235 acres in Lowell Township's Covenant Business Park.

"The general sentiment around our community up until now has been opposition to these facilities, and I think there's a lot of good reasons for that," said Scott Hendrickson, Meridian Township Supervisor, speaking to the broader Michigan data center debate.

Hendrickson's township adopted a six-month moratorium on data center development in May. Lowell Township voted 2-5 against a similar moratorium the same week.

## What the ordinance amendment covers

According to the City of Grandville's meeting notice posted on its website, the Planning Commission held a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at City Hall Council Chambers, 3195 Wilson Ave SW. The hearing covered two items:

• Data Centers Ordinance Amendment
• Commercial Vehicle Parking in Residential Areas Ordinance Amendment

The city did not publish the full text of either proposed amendment online before the hearing.

Legal experts say a well-drafted data center ordinance should address power consumption, water usage, noise limits, setbacks from residential areas, and fire protection planning. The law firm Foster Swift published a guide this month outlining what Michigan communities should include in data center regulations.

"If your community has not started working on a data center ordinance, now is the time," the firm wrote in a May publication. "Reacting to a pending application is harder, more expensive, and more politically charged than planning ahead."

## The Microsoft proposals nearby

Microsoft's Lowell Township project was initially filed under a shell company called Franklin Lowell LLC and withdrawn in December 2024 amid community opposition. The company later sent a letter to the township acknowledging concerns and saying it wanted to engage with residents before proceeding.

"We are introducing ourselves now because we have observed that the community would like more information about the proposal, and we believe it is important to be transparent about our intentions moving forward," the company said in the letter.

In Dorr Township, more than 50 residents attended a December 2024 board meeting to voice concerns about traffic, electricity, and water supply. Township Supervisor Jeff Miling told residents the land is already zoned for commercial and industrial use, which permits a data center.

## Why Grandville residents should care

Grandville sits along Interstate 196, a corridor that connects to the same power and water infrastructure serving Kent County's growing tech sector. The city's population is approximately 15,900 residents.

Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity and water. They generate constant noise from cooling systems and backup generators. And they can strain local roads during both construction and operation.

Across Michigan, communities are splitting on how to respond. Some have passed moratoriums to buy time. Others have rejected bans and chosen to draft oversight ordinances instead.

"We want to take a measured and deliberate approach to putting some of these guardrails in place," Hendrickson said of Meridian Township's moratorium.

## What happens next

The Planning Commission's public hearing is the first step in the amendment process. After the hearing, the commission will consider public testimony and make a recommendation to the City Council. The council holds its next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 8, at 7 p.m.

City Manager Griffin Graham can be reached at 616-530-4980 for questions about the proposed amendments.

Residents can also email comments to connect@cityofgrandville.com or call 616-531-3030 to leave a voice message for future council meetings.