Kalamazoo city leaders to consider data center moratorium at next meeting

Kalamazoo City Commissioners are actively considering a resolution for a two-year moratorium on data centers, a move prompted by a cannabis company's proposal to convert a local facility into a data center site. This discussion follows previous city leader meetings where the idea of a pause on data center development was first floated.

During a recent business meeting, the City Attorney presented a breakdown of the legal aspects and considerations for enacting a moratorium, highlighting that such measures are typically implemented to address development threats to public health, safety, welfare, or inadequate public infrastructure. The attorney also outlined different pathways for a moratorium, including one initiated by the Planning Commission or one based on public health and safety.

Vice Mayor To Duncan advocated for the moratorium request to be sent to the Planning Commission, citing strong community demand expressed in previous meetings. While Commissioner Chris Cradle noted the Planning Commission wouldn't meet until September, concerns were raised about missing opportunities for community input if action wasn't taken sooner. Ultimately, the commissioners compromised by directing city staff to draft a resolution for a moratorium based on public health and safety grounds for consideration at the next meeting, serving as a stopgap measure until a more extensive moratorium can be processed through the Planning Commission.