The Cass County Board of Commissioners and Cass County Planning Commission will host an informational session at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 26, focused on helping local governments understand policy and planning considerations related to data centers.
This session is educational in nature and is intended primarily for elected officials, planners, zoning administrators and local government staff who are responsible for land use and regulatory decisions. The presentation will be led by Dr. Sarah Mills of the University of Michigan, an expert in energy policy and land use planning in rural communities.
This event does not involve any proposed data center projects, nor does it signal any plans to pursue data center development in Cass County. The session is also not a public hearing and not a forum for advocacy or public comment.
“The purpose of this session is to ensure local governments have accurate, practical information about their options,” said Jeremiah Jones, chair of the Board of Commissioners. “That includes understanding how communities can set clear expectations, establish safeguards or determine that certain types of development are not appropriate for their area.”
The presentation will focus on:
- How data centers differ from other large-scale developments
- Land use, infrastructure and regulatory considerations
- Local policy tools available to communities
The public is welcome to attend and observe. Questions will be limited to in-person attendees, who will be asked to submit questions throughout the presentation. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP at https://forms.office.com/g/eSQnNMvDmf.
The session will be held at 5 p.m. in the Cass County Commissioners’ Chambers and will be livestreamed for those who wish to observe remotely.