Residents of Clinton Township, Wayne County, packed a Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday to voice their concerns over a proposed data center that many fear could shatter the tranquility of their rural community. The meeting focused on a draft update to the township’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO), which officials are scrambling to finalize to establish protections against large-scale industrial projects. While the township currently has a six-month moratorium in place, residents expressed anxiety that with only five months remaining, time is running out to pass the ordinance before a developer can claim "vested rights."
The urgency follows a recent application submitted for a large-scale data center and power-generating facility. During the meeting, the board took suggestions from the public on how to strengthen the SALDO draft, with residents highlighting potential impacts on local water consumption, noise levels, and the proximity to sensitive areas like Camp Freedom, a retreat for veterans with PTSD. Township Solicitor Jeffrey Treat noted that at least one formal proposal is already in the pipeline, heightening fears that the "safe haven" of the rural township is at risk.
The specific details of the data center proposal are expected to be formally presented at the Clinton Township Planning Commission meeting on June 4th. In the meantime, supervisors are reviewing the public’s input to ensure the final ordinance is robust enough to regulate the facility's environmental and infrastructure footprint.
