MONTAGUE — The White River Township board unanimously instituted a six-month moratorium on approvals of both wedding venues and data centers at its regular meeting Tuesday, saying it wanted to spend time considering how either type of facility could fit within its zoning ordinances and master plan.
Data centers have made news statewide recently as they are used for artificial intelligence, and several such facilities have been approved or constructed in Michigan. WWMT-TV reported in September that one such facility has been proposed in rural Kalamazoo County. A township landowner applied for a special use permit earlier this year to construct a wedding venue, sparking objections from nearby residents, before ultimately withdrawing the application and putting the property up for sale.
Trustee Deborah Harris, the board's liaison with the planning commission, said the six-month moratorium will be helpful given the work the commission is also doing with the master plan and the parks and rec plan, among other things.
On the topic of the master plan, deputy clerk Lauren Wackernagel reported that the commission has received an updated master plan from Williams & Works and a special meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 to review it. There will also be a public hearing regarding nonconforming structures and short-term rentals in November. Wackernagel also submitted a request, which the board unanimously approved, for the township to enter into a contract with McKenna, a Michigan community planning company, to review potential land uses. The cost of the contract will not exceed $50,000, and the money will come out of an escrow check recently submitted by Lakeside Solar as part of its solar energy facility application.
There was, as usual, discussion of the facility during public comments, with township landowner Paul Schroeder expressing support for the project while several residents objected to it. Melissa Lorenz, one resident against the facility, expressed disappointment that in her view, Lakeside Solar has expressed no willingness to work with the township regarding the size of the facility, which its application said will be over 1,500 acres.
Lakeside Solar representative Kendra Harrington reported that during public comment that an interactive map of the proposed facility has been posted to the project website and that she is continuing to meet with township landowners about the project.
The board unanimously approved the hire of Steve Smith as plumbing inspector and Jim Hoppus as mechanical inspector. Supervisor Ron Bailey said the township's plumbing and mechanical inspector, who was not named, has caused recent issues due to an inability to reach them. Smith has been plumbing inspector in Oceana County, Fruitland Township and Norton Shores, while Hoppus has done mechanical inspection in Fruitland Township, as well as North Muskegon and Egelston Township.
Laura Anderson, the board representative on the White Lake Ambulance Authority, reported that Fruitland Township is planning to join the WLAA's service area next month. Anderson also discussed the WLAA's millage renewal that is on the November ballot. The renewal would extend the current cap of 1.9 mills, which is set to expire in 2026, through 2030.
