<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2OlceC_1GwaBkcj00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2OlceC_1GwaBkcj00" width="1024" height="768" >Dexter City Council discussed whether to develop zoning regulations for data centers at its Nov. 9 meeting, weighing the benefits of preparing for future development against the city’s limited land and competing staff priorities.No ordinance was adopted, and council did not establish a deadline for drafting one. The discussion focused on understanding the city’s infrastructure capacity and what regulations might fit a community of Dexter’s size.Councilmember Joe Semifero requested the discussion, arguing that the city should prepare even if it does not currently appear suited to the large data centers drawing attention elsewhere.“I’m just saying that we should be prepared, and I think with the communities that have gone out there and done the work, it would be easier for us to do by collecting those, figuring out what would work for us, and putting something in place,” Semifero said.Semifero said advances in technology could eventually make smaller facilities possible. He cited cooling systems, backup generators and other operational requirements as reasons to establish standards before a proposal arrives.Community Development Manager Michelle Aniol said Dexter’s zoning ordinance does not address data centers as a primary land use. She distinguished those facilities from businesses operating computer rooms or data-processing equipment for their own needs.Aniol said the city lacks the available land that has made larger, rural communities potential locations for major data centers. That also makes it difficult to find comparable ordinances suited to Dexter.Councilmember Ray Tell asked how an ordinance could protect the city’s resources, particularly its water supply.Aniol said an initial assessment should examine electrical capacity, fiber connectivity, available properties and neighboring land uses. That work would involve discussions with DTE and communications providers, along with consideration of potential effects on surrounding properties.Mayor Shawn Keough encouraged council to consider where a data center might reasonably fit within the city. Members discussed existing industrial buildings as hypothetical examples, rather than reviewing a specific development proposal.Semifero pointed to Pittsfield Township regulations addressing noise, batteries, fire preparedness, water use and eventual decommissioning as examples of subjects Dexter could consider.He acknowledged that another community’s ordinance would need adjustments.“We can’t cut and paste and just be done with it,” Semifero said.The discussion also drew comparisons to the city’s experience regulating wastewater from beer production. Semifero said preparing data center standards in advance could help the city avoid having to address infrastructure concerns after a business arrives.Councilmember Wa Hubbard supported keeping the issue under consideration while asking whether the Planning Commission and staff had time to take it on.“I just think, in response to the beer issue that we were just talking about, I’d hate to see this fall off the radar of staff and planning commission just because we stop talking about it right now,” Hubbard said.Aniol said the Planning Commission likely had capacity to consider the issue, but staff would need time to assess infrastructure and develop appropriate standards. Producing an ordinance by the beginning of the year would not be feasible, she said.Keough supported preliminary work to understand the city’s capacity while identifying the rental inspection ordinance as another priority he wanted to advance.He said council could revisit priorities during goal setting in the new year, following the seating of a new council.</div></body>

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Dexter City Council discussed whether to develop zoning regulations for data centers at its Nov. 9 meeting, weighing the benefits of preparing for future development against the city’s limited land and competing staff priorities. No ordinance was adopted, and council did not establish a deadline for drafting one. The...

Dexter Council Discusses Data Center Zoning Rules

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Dexter City Council discussed whether to develop zoning regulations for data centers at its Nov. 9 meeting, weighing the benefits of preparing for future d

Dexter Council Discusses Data Center Zoning Rules

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