By Kate Carlson
Publication Date: 2025-12-19 02:15:00
Microsoft Corp.’s request to rezone part of a 356-acre site in Kent County for a data center is on hold for several weeks after hundreds of people pushed a Thursday night township meeting beyond capacity.
Gaines Township officials are considering the tech giant’s request to rezone a 40.5-acre portion of the site that it acquired from Republic National Distributing Co. in November 2024 for $9.7 million. The property is adjacent to 316 acres that Microsoft bought for $45.3 million in August 2024. Both parcels were previously owned by Steelcase Inc.
The township is tentatively planning to hold the public planning commission meeting in February, likely at South Christian High School auditorium, which has much more space, said Gaines Township Community Development Director Dan Wells.
The township meeting room can hold 250 people, which was well over capacity at the scheduled 7 p.m. start time on Thursday. The planning commission voted unanimously to adjourn and…
