Data center pushback in Michigan's Lyon Township
Residents of Lyon Township, Michigan, are actively opposing a proposed 1.8 million square foot, six-building data center project, dubbed "Project Flex," by developer Varys. Concerns include industrial noise, environmental strain, potential property value decreases, and the project's proximity to schools and homes. The site plan is currently under review by consultants and has not yet been placed on the Planning Commission's agenda.
Residents of Lyon Township, Michigan, voiced strong opposition at a recent Lyon Township Planning Commission meeting regarding "Project Flex," a proposed 1.8 million square foot data center. Despite the proposal not being on the official agenda, the meeting saw a standing-room-only crowd, with numerous speakers slamming the massive project.
The proposed six-building campus, estimated to cost up to a billion dollars and designed to power AI and next-generation technology, would be located in an undeveloped stretch of land within the South Hudson Business Park. Homeowners raised concerns about potential heavy industrial noise, environmental strain, and a negative impact on property values. A local resident emphasized that the facility would be "too close to schools, too close to residents homes, and too close to downtown businesses."
Developer Varys has reportedly rolled out multiple revisions to the proposal, stating they welcome a thorough deliberative review and hope to be back on the agenda soon. They also claim to have gone "above and beyond what we are legally bound to have to do to accommodate the people of this town."
The Planning Commission indicated that consultants are still reviewing the site plan submission, and it will not be added to an agenda until comments are returned to the applicant. Residents, however, remain skeptical, with many feeling the project is a "done deal" despite the ongoing review process.