Lowell Township just hit pause on a rezoning request tied to a proposed data center after intense local opposition.
The developer, Franklin Partners, pulled back and asked for an indefinite suspension until it can share more concrete project details.
Both the township and the City of Lowell want specifics on water and wastewater needs before moving forward, signaling real scrutiny of utility loads for this build.
Residents are worried about electricity demand, water use, and rate impacts, which are core constraints for any large AI-ready data center footprint in the region.
This fits a broader West Michigan pattern where data center expansion is running into political and social resistance around energy and water, not just land use.
Operators looking at Michigan for GPU-heavy builds will need stronger transparency on power and cooling strategies and more proactive community engagement.
The article is worth a read to track how local pushback can slow or reshape regional data center and AI infrastructure plans.
Source: Lowell Township pauses rezoning consideration for data center plans | wzzm13.com
