Allen Park Planning Commission postpones decision on data center at contentious meeting

The Allen Park Planning Commission has again postponed its decision on a site plan for a 26-megawatt data center proposed by Solstice Data at 7500 Enterprise Drive, marking the third such delay. The meeting was contentious, with Commissioners Dan Loyd (also a City Council member) and Nick Darin voting to deny the plan, though they were outnumbered. The commission ultimately voted 5-0 to postpone, eliciting shouts of disgust from the audience. The postponement follows commissioners' requests for answers to numerous questions on noise pollution, fire safety, and particularly the company's contingency plan to use municipal water if its primary trucked-in supply is interrupted. Solstice Data's cooling system would use approximately 3.1 million gallons of water annually, and Commissioner Loyd sought assurances that existing users would not be impacted. Project manager Robert Coates from Solstice Data dismissed the likelihood of needing municipal backup as "slim to none," a statement met with jeers. Residents reiterated concerns about potential health effects, including chronic noise, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and air particle emissions that could worsen respiratory issues, citing the data center's proximity to Melvindale High School and existing pollution in the Downriver area. Jennifer Justice, a Melvindale resident, highlighted local student engagement with the issue, while Peyton Barker of Allen Park voiced broader environmental concerns. Solstice Data officials have refuted these claims, presenting studies indicating minimal noise impact. Mike Auerbach, representing the city's planning consultant, Carlisle/Wortman Associates, acknowledged that many questions remained unanswered but suggested the commission could grant preliminary approval since the project aligns with existing city ordinances, with remaining concerns addressed before final approval.