Lyon Township residents filled the planning commission meeting Monday evening, for another long night of fiery public comment, as many continue to fight a proposed data center. “I moved to the country because I wanted to live in a peaceful place, and so far, it is becoming not peaceful,” said one of the residents during public comment. In September 2025, the Lyon Township Planning Commission approved a 1.8 million-square-foot, six-building data center on 172 acres off Milford Road near South Lyon, and since then, residents have been fighting to keep that development out of their community.
“Who wants to live next to a data center? I live within a mile, and nobody wants that. I have a neighbor on 12 Mile (Road), he can’t sell his house, he’s had it for sale since December,” Lyon Twp resident Nancy Hopkins said. The project, known as Project Flex, is being developed by Verrus. In late May, an attorney representing Verrus submitted a Final Site Plan response letter arguing the project meets all applicable Planning Commission conditions, township codes, and zoning ordinances. In the letter, Verrus warned the township that if approval is further delayed, they will pursue legal action. “There is no integrity here, right. They speak about being a good neighbor here, but good neighbors don’t blackmail their neighbors or their township, and that’s what is happening here,” said Melissa Noble.
State Sen. Jim Runestad, who opposes the data center, was one of the dozens to speak during public comment Monday night. Runestad has proposed a one-year moratorium on data centers in the state. “This is not in opposition to innovation or economic growth. I support responsible development, but what is happening here in Michigan and in Lyon Twp is not responsible. It is rushed, opaque, and dismissive of the very people this project will most directly affect,” said Runestad.
CBS News Detroit reached out to Verrus and received the following statement:
“Project Flex has met all applicable township requirements following a comprehensive review process that included extensive studies on water use, noise, traffic, energy, and environmental impacts. Throughout that process, the project team addressed community feedback and incorporated additional measures beyond those required by township standards. Those studies demonstrated that Project Flex is designed to use 99% less water than legacy data centers, maintain sound levels at or below approximately 50 dB(A) at the property boundary during normal operations, comparable to an office building, and satisfy the energy review requirements established through the township’s approval process. While we recognize that not everyone supports the project, we are grateful for the support of residents, community leaders, civic organizations, labor partners, and businesses throughout Lyon Township. Project Flex is expected to generate up to $40 million for Lyon Township, up to $265 million for state and local education, up to $35 million for Oakland County, and up to $8 million for regional institutions, including libraries, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, the Detroit Zoo, and the Detroit Institute of Arts over the first 17 years of the project.”
A coyote with an extremely swollen face, seen roaming a San Fernando Valley neighborhood, is now receiving treatment at a wildlife rescue. When Barbara Perrin’s son recently spotted the coyote…
Salt Lake City — Autumn brings a lot of beautiful colors to Utah’s landscape, and driving to see the leaves change color is a popular activity for many locals. However, trees…
An invasive species has begun to cover trees in the MetroWest area of Massachusetts. It’s called the spotted lanternfly, and its presence could spell doom for some vegetation while creating…
The number of active registered voters during August has decreased compared to July. The Secretary of State’s office released an update reporting a decline of 50,130 active registered voters. The…
When everything around you competes for your attention, remember who deserves the center of your life: Jesus. He is before all things, holds all things together, and is greater than…
The rabies vaccine is to be placed in a bait mixture throughout Harford County to attract wild animals in an effort to immunize them against the illness. The pilot project,…
Ford Motor Company is recalling 148,663 Mustang vehicles due to an issue that could cause the cars to lose power or disrupt other functions, such as the headlights, increasing the…
Most high-tech police drones are deployed for high-speed chases or search and rescue missions, but officers in Kirkland, Wash., recently launched one indoors for a wilder reason: tracking a live…
A Cottage Grove man was arrested by the Eugene Police Department (EPD) after police said he tried to force a vehicle out of a Eugene towing yard by ramming it…
A woman and a young girl fell from a chairlift ride in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, Monday night. According to the Seaside Heights Fire Department, the incident happened around 8…
Nearly 900 pounds of marijuana headed to Orlando was intercepted in Georgia as part of a larger interstate shipment, according to the Butts County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Gary Long said…
Home / Business/Industry News / Sports Memorabilia Business News / Nebraska Postal Worker Arrested in $46,000 Sports Card Theft Nebraska Postal Worker Arrested in $46,000 Sports Card Theft August 31,…
After losing their first baby to miscarriage, Alex and Sarah Kennedy were thrilled late last year to find out they were pregnant again. “We went in for our first ultrasound…
In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you tries…
On Monday, health officials in Northern Colorado confirmed the first case of West Nile Virus found in Weld County this year. The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment…
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called again on the Department of Justice to end mail-order abortion by settling Louisiana v. FDA in light of a new U.S. Senate report on…
DPHHS URGES MONTANANS TO TAKE INCREASED CAUTION AGAINST MOSQUITO BITES THIS SUMMER State and local health officials confirmed the first detections of West Nile virus (WNV) in Montana for summer…
An open-water swimmer says a routine morning swim in Lake Tahoe turned into a frightening encounter when an otter attacked her underwater. Lynnette Bellin said she was swimming near Hidden…
Last month, a hiker on a high-alpine plateau just beneath the summit headwall of the highest peak in Montana made a painful calculation. David Cifaldi had taken a fall on…
The federal government’s latest plan to bring more foreign beef into the country while cutting red tape for producers to process their own beef would do nothing to help American…
About 100 gallons of diesel spilled over the side of a bridge after a semi-truck accident in Nevada County, threatening nearby wildlife, state officials said. CDFW Two “saddle tanks” on…
A minor earthquake was logged in southeast Ohio on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS said that around 4:06 a.m., a 2.2-magnitude quake struck around seven…
In a rare kind of attack, a bear killed a man in Crystal, New Mexico, on Thursday, local police said. The police department for the Navajo Nation said officers within…
God didn’t send Jesus because the world was worthy of saving, He sent Him because the world was worth loving. When we were lost, God didn’t give up on us;…
A drought in the western U.S. has devastated wildlands, dried up food sources and sent bears wandering along city sidewalks and into homes and shops in search of food. What…
At least three baby goats belonging to a North Carolina petting zoo have tested positive for rabies, prompting state health officials to issue an urgent warning to those who visited…
Alligator hunting season is off to a massive start in Mississippi — and this catch is enough to make you think twice before jumping into the Mississippi River. According to…
Crews are working to clear a large mudslide that brought boulders and debris down on a road in Eagle County, Colorado. On Saturday afternoon, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office said…
Two people who went canoeing and camping in the Tomales Bay area were found dead after they never returned from their planned trip, officials said. Marin County Fire said the…
Cleanup crews found no diesel runoff after a tanker carrying about 7,500 gallons of fuel overturned in DeKalb County, fire officials said in an update late Friday morning. A spokesperson…
You must be logged in to post a comment.