Public hearing for Negaunee data center ordinance to be held on Aug. 13
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NEGAUNEE -- At Thursday night's meeting of the Negaunee City Council, the council discussed the zoning ordinance focused at data centers which was drafted and recommended by the Negaunee Planning Commission last month. Voting 7-0, the council moved to approve the first reading of the ordinance, and to schedule a public hearing for its Aug. 13 meeting.
The ordinance would limit data centers to mining and industrial zones, set acceptable levels of noise disturbance, set maximum building heights and make other specifications.
One example of the ordinances' specifications is that "Any use or activity producing air pollution, dust, smoke, glare, exhaust, noise, heat, vibration or humidity in any form shall be carried on in such a manner that it is not perceptible at or beyond the property line."
The full ordinance is available in the packet for Thursday's meeting, at www.cityofnegaunee.com/city-council/agenda/regular-meeting-45.
"I'm the one who brought this to the planning commission," said city councilperson Jon Becker. "It was really helpful to have all of their input in drafting this ordinance. It seems like it's certainly something that we need to have at least some language that gives us some teeth and some ability to control how and where something like that might happen.
"I personally hope that what we've written is so restrictive that they maybe choose to go somewhere else."
"I think the planning commission did an excellent job in putting this together," said councilperson Amanda Ghanavati. "I also hope that this makes it nearly impossible for them to put any data center here, and I really hope that other communities in the U.P. follow our example."
"This is more just a sign of the times," said Councilperson Dave Kangas. "This is the 21st century information age ... it's just kind of like the way it is as of now. However, I do like the idea of us putting restrictions on where they could or could not go."
The state of Michigan outlaws exclusionary zoning, which means that municipalities cannot completely outlaw specific and lawful land-uses, including data centers.
Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.