Saline Township

Project Overview

Related Digital is proposing a data center project on 575 acres of land in Saline Township. The proposed data center is a low impact, high investment project being designed with the Township’s rural character in mind. Related Digital will develop on fewer than 250 acres of the site, with the balance remaining open green space and landscape. The project prioritizes the preservation of open space and consistency with the surrounding area, including through setbacks from the road and screening. It will have minimal impacts on water, traffic, and other Township resources. The project offers significant benefits to Saline Township, including substantial and recurring tax revenues, and a superior alternative to other developments that will otherwise occur on the land.

 

Key Facts and Impacts

  • Nominal amount of water used (primarily for restrooms, sinks, other domestic uses)

  • Dramatically different from other data centers that evaporate water to provide cooling

  • Storage tanks for fire suppression

  • The Saline Fire Department will have access to storage tanks for fighting fires anywhere in Township

  • Planned onsite well will only serve the Project and Fire Department

  • Minimal to no noise or air quality impacts and will abide by current Township ordinances, which includes maximum 65dba at property line.

  • Only a few emergency generators that run only if the utility is down.

  • Positive impact on the grid and will not increase costs for ratepayers

  • No on-site energy generation

  • Existing wooded areas, new landscaping and berms along Michigan Avenue screen the Project from view

  • One-story buildings that comply with existing zoning ordinances

  • Buildings built on ground starting ~30’ below the elevation of Michigan Avenue

  • No solar panels planned

  • Minimal traffic impacts, with the main entrance planned for Michigan Avenue and relatively few on-site employees

  • No strain on community resources like schools, libraries, etc., but will provide significant funding for these programs through taxes

The Proposed Data Center Offers Clear Benefits

Substantial tax revenues generated for Township general fund and services

Analysis based on estimations, final tax numbers subject to assessor determination.

This project adds a new revenue source that can also reduce the burden of future millages on Saline Township homeowners.

Low impacts on views, water, noise, traffic, and Township resources

Clear long-term benefits to the community and a superior alternative to other potential developments including large scale residential (allowed by right) and solar development, which requires no township approval and creates a fraction of the tax revenues for the community and state

Although a portion of the $8M goes to the State for distribution, approximately $3M flows straight to Saline Area Schools for school debt, Saline Sinking Fund, and Salines Cares millages.

Analysis based on estimations, final tax numbers subject to assessor determination.