Anti-data center group seeks recall of 7 Lyon Township board members

The "No Data Center in Lyon Township" group has initiated a recall effort against all seven members of the Lyon Township Board of Trustees in Michigan. Nancy Hopkins, a township resident, filed new recall petitions with the Oakland County Election Commission, which will review the petition language for clarity and factual accuracy during a public meeting on April 6. This follows a previous failed attempt by Ryan Northup, whose petitions were denied due to unclear language. Residents, including Craig Kreutzberg speaking for the group, express disappointment over the board's perceived lack of transparency and its handling of "Project Flex," a 1.8 million square-foot data center approved by the Planning Commission in September. Concerns span potential impacts on water, energy, noise, health, and property values. The recall petitions also cite the board's unanimous 4% salary increase and a vote to study a new tax abatement policy, which critics argue would benefit Walbridge, the property owner, and the Project Flex development. Supervisor John Dolan, Clerk Michele Cash, Treasurer Patricia Carcone, and Trustees Lise Blades, Kristofer Enlow, Sean O'Neil, and Robert Swain are targets of the recall. Trustee Enlow stated that the data center project never came to the board for a vote, thus he doesn't face recall petitions directly tied to it. Despite this, the board *did* approve a six-month moratorium on future hyperscale data centers in March, though this does not impact the already-approved Project Flex. Trustee Swain disagreed with the recall's justifications, acknowledging resident frustration but emphasizing that the data center was a permitted use on industrial-zoned land. If approved, petitioners would need nearly 3,000 signatures to place the recall on the November ballot.