Canton Township is drafting new zoning rules for data centers and mixed-use developments, with planners continuing the work at a special session Monday, Sept. 21.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Canton Township Administration Building, 1150 S. Canton Center Rd. Residents can speak during a public comment period, with a three-minute limit per person.

Both items appear as Old Business on the meeting agenda, meaning commissioners have been working on them for months. The session is separate from the commission's regular Sept. 14 meeting.

Data center rules take shape after moratorium

The data center amendment has been in the works since the Canton Township Board of Trustees adopted a temporary moratorium on new data center uses. Community Planning Manager Patrick Sloan described the moratorium at the commission's March 2 meeting, saying the township's existing zoning ordinance permits data centers in certain industrial and office districts but the regulations "were written decades ago and do not address the impacts of current facilities."

Sloan said the moratorium was not prompted by a specific proposal. It was a proactive response to data center developments elsewhere in the region.

Commissioners have weighed in at multiple work sessions since April. At the May 18 session, Commissioner Mallad said the township "needs clear definitions and thorough due diligence when drafting the Zoning Ordinance text for data center uses because of growing public concerns including energy, water, noise, pollution, and other community effects."

Commissioner Singh said at the same May meeting that data centers could generate tax revenue without significantly increasing the population, but that the township should ensure suitable locations and infrastructure exist without negatively impacting the community. Commissioner Walther noted that standard noise measurements may not capture lower-frequency sounds from data centers, which can still have impacts even when less noticeable to people.

At its July 20 meeting, the commission reviewed a staff memorandum on the draft ordinance and voiced support for continued development of the text.

Mixed-use amendment details unclear

The second agenda item covers a zoning text amendment for Mixed Use Neighborhood Nodes. Details on that amendment remain scarce. No prior meeting minutes describing its substance were available, though its listing as Old Business indicates it has come before the commission previously.

How to attend or watch

The work session is open to the public. Residents who wish to speak must provide their name and address for the record. Meetings are broadcast on Comcast Channel 12 and Wide Open West Channel 10 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. Residents needing ADA accommodations can call Canton Township Human Resources at 734-394-5260.

No date has been announced for when either amendment might move to the Board of Trustees for formal adoption.