Departments » Construction & Development Services / Building

Data Center Moratorium & Ordinance

Font Size: + -
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Print

At it’s November 18, 2025 meeting, the Wixom City Council moved “to direct Planning Commission to review the City’s zoning ordinance regulations as it relates to large scale data centers and provide recommendations back to City Council”.

In addition, On March 24, 2026, City Council approved a  Resolution  Imposing  a  Temporary  Moratorium  for  a  period  of  six  (6) months on  the  establishing,  permitting,  consideration,  approval,  location, construction, and/or installation of any data centers in the City of Wixom.

At the June 1, 2026 the Planning Commission meeting, the Commission recommended to set a public hearing to formally take public comments on the draft zoning ordinance language. That public hearing was held on Monday, June 29th at 7:00 PM in the Wixom Council Chambers located at City Hall, 49045 Pontiac Trail, Wixom MI 48393. 

At the June 29th meeting, Planning Commission approved a series of motions that amended the draft data center ordinance amendments, and approved a recommendation to forward those proposed ordinance amendments to City Council for their consideration at the July 14, 2026 City Council meeting. Draft meeting minutes will be made available when ready. 

The full draft of proposed amendments and additions are linked below, and are available for review at the City of Wixom Construction & Development Services Department located at 49045 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, MI 48393 between the hours of 7:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The proposed amendments are summarized as follows: 

  1. Text amendments to the City of Wixom Zoning Ordinance Section 18.24.030 Definitions C-D. The amendments provide a definition of a “Data Center” for the purpose of establishing regulations for large scale data processing, computer server, data storage system, telecommunication equipment, and associated infrastructure uses. These uses include the processing, storage, or transmission of digital information. Such facilities may include backup power generation, cooling systems, fuel storage, and security infrastructure. The definition does not include server rooms or data-processing facilities that are accessory and incidental to a primary permitted use.

     

  2. Text amendments to the City of Wixom Zoning Ordinance Section 18.09.020 Schedule of uses and Section 18.08.020 Schedule of uses. The amendments establish Data Centers as Special Land Uses in the M-1 (Light Industrial), M-2 (General Industrial), and IRO (Industrial Research Office) zoning districts that require specific review by the Planning Commission, adherence to specific standards, and a public hearing be held in conjunction with consideration of the Special Land Use request. Data Centers would not be a permitted or Special Land Use in any other zoning districts. 

     

  3. Adding Section 18.08.040.H. Standards applicable to specific uses and Section 18.09.040.N Standards applicable to specific uses to the City of Wixom Zoning Ordinance. These sections will provide specific use standards for Data Centers. Standards reference minimum distances from residentially zoned properties, required noise studies, noise regulations, cooling system design, anticipated utility usage and capacity verification, traffic analysis, security measures, and decommissioning plans.

Below are links to relevant documents: 

Below is a list of the Planning Commission meetings where data center ordinance amendments have been discussed:

Persons having any questions regarding these matters are urged to attend this meeting or contact Construction & Development Services at (248) 624-0880.