City of Kalamazoo no set plan for data center
The City of Kalamazoo has clarified that no formal proposal has been submitted or approved to convert a former cannabis facility into a data center. While existing zoning allows such a use, a formal development proposal would still require a site plan review and public interest in the potential project has already sparked opposition from at least one resident.
The City of Kalamazoo has clarified that it has not received or approved any formal development proposal to transform a former cannabis grow facility at 2839 Full Circle Drive into a data center. The property, owned by Harbor Farmz, and its CEO Michael Ward, initiated discussions with the city's Community Planning and Economic Development Department in March about potentially repurposing the building.
City officials determined that a data center could be permitted under the property's existing Manufacturing-General (M-2) zoning district, which is the city's most intensive industrial classification. This interpretation allows a data center under the "industrial, intensive" land-use category. Ward previously indicated this zoning determination removed a significant hurdle for exploring the site's future use, though he noted no operator had committed to the location yet.
Despite the lack of a formal proposal, the possibility of a data center has generated public interest and some opposition. During a recent City Commission meeting, a resident voiced concerns, stating that AI technology and its supporting infrastructure do not belong in the community. City officials reiterated that any future proposal would still be subject to a site plan review process and adherence to various development standards, including those for stormwater management, lighting, and setbacks.