GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Among other things, Grand Rapids city commissioners talked about zoning for potential future data centers during their Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday morning at city hall.
City Commissioner Marshall Kilgore said proactive updates may be appropriate as interest in data centers grows around the region. Kilgore wants to ensure that the city's zoning ordinance aligns with Grand Rapids' master plan.
"To create clarity, set expectations, to ensure that data center development aligns with community priorities like our master plan related to infrastructure capacity, environmental stewardship," Kilgore said.
City leaders said they want to prepare an appropriate regulatory framework, and evaluating current policy is part of the process.
Kilgore listed some data center aspects that should be considered.
"Energy demand, cooling systems and operational characteristics, identifying where data centers are permitted by limiting them to certain zoning districts that require special land use approval. Or restricting proximity to residential and environmentally sensitive areas," he said.
He added that performance standards related to noise, screening, water use and heat discharge should also be evaluated.
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