As debates over the rapid expansion of data centers ripple across Michigan, Ypsilanti has hit pause. On March 3, 2025, the City Council voted to consider an emergency moratorium that would temporarily halt new zoning permits for data centers within city limits.
The additional time would also allow Ypsilanti to review and amend its zoning laws, specifically as they relate to data centers. Under current zoning laws, a data center could be classified as either an essential service or unclassified use, neither of which would adequately regulate such facilities. If this moratorium passes, there is potential for another 60-day suspension after the first concludes.
Councilor Amber Fellows supported a resolution involving a 365-day moratorium, which would allow significantly more time to research data centers. Fellows explained that 19 other communities in Michigan have imposed data center moratoriums, with minimums of three months, most lasting nine months and some extending to a full year.
“Data centers are kind of a new phenomenon, and we don’t know yet what to expect as far as impacts on the community. Having more time to understand how to approach the subject would let us study the impacts and make a better decision,” Fellows said.
While the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory data center proposed for Ypsilanti Township has been the talk of the town, not all data centers require hundreds of acres of land and substantial amounts of power. Councilor Simmons noted that smaller-scale data centers already operate in Ypsilanti. The building at 761 Jenness Street, formerly the EMU Credit Union, now houses a small, business-use cryptocurrency data center. While this operation does not appear to be causing any harm to Ypsilanti, it would also be subject to either a 60- or 65-day moratorium.
Councilor Steve Wilcoxen said, “60 days is the legal limit that we have from our charter. Longer may be necessary. I don’t know that we have actually defined ‘data center’ and considered these differences in sizes.” He added that he supports most items in the resolution and believes that Ypsilanti Township is being taken advantage of.
After taking a vote, all present council members voted yes on the motion to adopt to both the 60-day moratorium and the proposed resolution.
Community Involvement
The public hearing allowed residents to share their opinions and concerns with the City Council. Many Ypsilanti residents spoke in opposition to the data centers or in support of the moratorium to delay decisions.
“The current resolution on the table is not enough. I would like to see robust data from other communities on the effects before continuing,” Ypsilanti resident KJ Pedri said.
Some residents emphasized that this movement was not a decision on whether there should be a data center or not.
“I want there to not be a data center in Ypsilanti ever, but that’s obviously a much bigger discussion," said Sven Milchner in a public comment. "We are just asking you to postpone for 60 days, whether or not there should be a data center in Ypsilanti. That isn’t what this is about. Give the planning commission 60 days so that they can just come up with their plan.”
The City Council members commended residents for their outreach on the issue, noting they received 57 emails and two public comments in support of the moratorium.
The high level of engagement likely reflects the circulation of social media posts encouraging residents to contact City Council, vote in favor of a moratorium and support extending it beyond 60 days.
Ypsilanti residents opposed to the data center project in Ypsilanti shared posts on social media urging others to contact City Council members and encourage a longer moratorium. (Courtesy @stopthedata on Instagram)
