By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Board has unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers and commercial energy facilities, as the township continues to work on updating its master plan.
The new moratorium, approved on Sept. 1, repeals a moratorium that the board had passed in early March on any data centers being built in the township, until the board could work on an ordinance to address any such projects.
“A while back, the board had a conversation about how it would be necessary also to impose a moratorium on energy facilities – solar, (battery energy storage), wind – particularly while we are working through the master plan process,” township special legal counsel David Eberle said.
“After that, the board adopted an amendment to the zoning ordinance which allowed a moratorium to be imposed via resolution, to provide us some flexibility. The catalyst for this was the solar, but there was a recognition that down the road, we don’t know what’s coming, and we don’t want to always have to go through the process of adopting an ordinance (in response to an upcoming project).”
The resolution adopting the moratorium states “that comprehensive planning and the proper development of zoning regulations regarding energy facilities and data centers require extensive study and review.” It adds that “until the master plan review is complete and zoning ordinances can be enacted based on the updated master plan, it is appropriate to maintain the status quo regarding energy facilities and data centers within the Township.”
After one year has passed, the township can seek to extend the moratorium by 60-day increments, depending on how long it takes for the master plan process to be completed, Eberle said.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Board has unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers and commercial energy facilities, as the township continues to work on updating its master plan.
The new moratorium, approved on Sept. 1, repeals a moratorium that the board had passed in early March on any data centers being built in the township, until the board could work on an ordinance to address any such projects.
“A while back, the board had a conversation about how it would be necessary also to impose a moratorium on energy facilities – solar, (battery energy storage), wind – particularly while we are working through the master plan process,” township special legal counsel David Eberle said.
“After that, the board adopted an amendment to the zoning ordinance which allowed a moratorium to be imposed via resolution, to provide us some flexibility. The catalyst for this was the solar, but there was a recognition that down the road, we don’t know what’s coming, and we don’t want to always have to go through the process of adopting an ordinance (in response to an upcoming project).”
The resolution adopting the moratorium states “that comprehensive planning and the proper development of zoning regulations regarding energy facilities and data centers require extensive study and review.” It adds that “until the master plan review is complete and zoning ordinances can be enacted based on the updated master plan, it is appropriate to maintain the status quo regarding energy facilities and data centers within the Township.”
After one year has passed, the township can seek to extend the moratorium by 60-day increments, depending on how long it takes for the master plan process to be completed, Eberle said.
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