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CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF BROWNSTOWN WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN ORDINANCE NO. 141-81 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 141-45 OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BROWNSTOWN TO IMPOSE A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE ESTABLISHMENT, CONSIDERATION, APPROVAL, PERMITTING, LOCATION, CONSTRUCTION, AND/OR INSTALLATION OF DATA CENTERS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP FOR A PERIOD OF SIX (6) MONTHS. THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF BROWNSTOWN ORDAINS: Section 1: Preamble. WHEREAS, the Township currently does not have data processing listed as a permitted use in any district included in its Zoning Ordinance, and has not established, approved, nor implemented appropriate performance standards specific for data centers; and WHEREAS, it has recently come to the attention of Residents and Township Board members that the Township Board should study and review whether data centers require local regulation within Brownstown Township, and whether absent such local regulation, data centers may interfere with other land uses, and may have substantial impacts on the environment, public health, and safety, depending on the proposed size of the project being proposed by an applicant; and WHEREAS, the Township has a legitimate public purpose in assessing the regulation of the establishment and use of data centers within the Township; and WHEREAS, the Township Board is desirous of assessing its regulations to implement an appropriate regulatory approach for addressing potential impacts of data centers while ensuring the productive and healthy development of data centers within the Township, which may include designated districts where data centers may be properly located within the Township; and WHEREAS, the Township Board wishes to consider and assess amendments to its current Zoning Ordinance and the regulations therein regarding the use of data centers that are consistent with all applicable state and federal laws; and WHEREAS, the time to consider and assess regulation of data centers will take several months; and WHEREAS, the Township is legitimately invested in ensuring that data centers do not interfere with other land uses, or have substantial negative impacts on the environment, public health, and safety; and WHEREAS, it is a routine and an appropriate method to enact a reasonable and temporary moratorium to consider enactment of any amendment; and WHEREAS, the Township Board finds that it is necessary and reasonable to establish a temporary moratorium on the establishment and use of data centers within the Township for six (6) months or until the Township has enacted a regulatory ordinance setting forth the regulations for the establishment and use of data centers within the Township. Section 2: Moratorium. The Township hereby temporarily enacts a blanket prohibition on the establishment and use of data centers, including without limitation, the consideration and approval of such use within the Township, pending further study and enactment of Township regulation addressing same. Section 3: Term; Renewal. This Ordinance shall terminate and be of no further effect six (6) months from the effective date of this Ordinance unless the Township Board adopts a resolution extending the moratorium or terminating the moratorium. Section 4: Repealer. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are repealed only to the extent necessary to give this ordinance full force and effect. Section 5: Severability. If any article, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of remaining portions of the Ordinance, it being the intent of the Township that this Ordinance shall be fully severable. 1st Reading Township Board approved on January 20, 2026. 2nd Reading to be adopted by the Township Board on February 17, 2026. SHERRY A. BERECZ, Supervisor MAUREEN BRINKER, Clerk Publish: The News Herald Wednesday, January 28, 2026