By Stephanie Forth | News Channel 3
Publication Date: 2026-04-09 21:50:00
GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing next week about Microsoft’s proposed plans to build a data center in the community.
Data centers are often large-scale developments that contain servers used for artificial intelligence, utilizing large quantities of water and electricity.
In October 2024, the tech giant purchased 316 acres from Steelcase, an office furniture manufacturer, for $45.3 million with hopes to expand their footprint in the Michigan market.
Microsoft submitted a request to rezone 40.5 acres of property, located on Patterson Avenue, from “large-scale planned unit development” to “light industrial.”
Land that is classified as light industrial means it is intended to have limited visual, sound, and odor emissions.
The topics of concern addressed by the township to Microsoft mentioned later in this article include the following:
- Noise
- Light
- Taxes
- Electricity
- Water/sewer usage and upgrades
- Environmental…