Perry halts data center requests for 180 days
The city of Perry, Michigan, has enacted a 180-day moratorium on data center requests. This pause allows officials to study the potential impacts of large-scale data centers on the city's infrastructure and services, as existing zoning ordinances are not adequate for modern facilities. The city aims to develop updated regulations during this period.
The City of Perry, Michigan, unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on data center requests during its city council meeting on August 20. The measure was enacted to allow officials to study the potential impacts of data centers on the city's land use, infrastructure, environmental factors, public safety, and municipal services, as current zoning ordinances are not designed for the scale of modern facilities.
Mayor Sue Hammond and city attorney Justin English were instrumental in drafting the resolution, which was supported by council member Bob Porter. The resolution specifies that large-scale data centers create "substantial and unusual demands" on electrical services, water, sanitary sewer capacity, fire response, cooling equipment, noise, and emergency generators. The city aims to develop updated master plan amendments, ordinances, and regulations during this temporary halt.
The moratorium took effect immediately and prohibits the city from processing, reviewing, or approving any new data center applications or expansions. Officials noted that no data centers currently operate in Perry, and there are no pending applications. The initial 180-day period can be extended once for an additional 90 days.