No Lowell Data Center
Lowell
Gaines
Timeline of Covenant Business Park Lowell, Michigan
The Right Place submits Strategic Readiness Fund grant, stating an end user is "not identified"...
"Developer" first mentioned in Lowell Twp meeting minutes
425 Agreement introduced, first step in development process
425 Agreement approved, Benedict and Burtt voted "Nay", citing lack of transparency...
Jerry Hale signs NDA with Microsoft
Data Center's added as a permitted land use Ordinance 2025-01Z
Franklin Partners (Developer) submits application to rezone property to light industrial
425 Agreement
Nov 2022
Nov 2023
June 2023
July 2024
Aug 2024
Oct 2024
Nov 2024
Dec 2024
Jan 2025
Mar 2025
Oct 2025
Gaines Twp - “Planner Wells says Steelcase has a potential Buyer and would like to sell the property as soon as it is rezoned.”
Gaines Twp - Steelcase PUD rezoned to light industrial
Gaines Twp - The Right Place announces working with Microsoft.
Microsoft buys 300 acres in Dorr Twp.
Microsoft buys ~300 acres in Gaines township for AI Data Center development
2021 - Planned Use (Unit) Development Approved for parcel, referred to as Covenant Business Park
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Stated in grant application that an End User had not been identified.
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8 months later, the developer was first mentioned... Did Microsoft magically coincidently appear or was it the impetus for the Strategic Readiness Fund grant application?
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​STRATEGIC SITE READINESS PROGRAM GRANT AGREEMENT Article V Section 5.1 Events of Default. Any representation made by the Grantee in support of this Agreement is incorrect at the time that such representation was made in any material respect, including without limitation, any information provided in the Application
January 30th, 2024 - $17.5M Grant awarded for utility expansion
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This Grant was awarded and sold to the community as mixed use development that would create "3,000 jobs", >50x more than are estimated with the data center.
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Randy T. from The Right Place sits on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Strategic Fund Board, the entity which voted to give tax-payer money to projects which he has is economic interests in.
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This article talk about past allegations of Ethical Misconduct regarding Randy T. in Michigan’s Economic Development Corporation.
July 2024 - Developer (Franklin Partners) first mentioned
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Supervisor Hale updated the Board on the discussions with the City of Lowell regarding a 425 agreement. "There will be a meeting on July 29th with the developer, representatives from The Right Place, City of Lowell attorney, Lowell Township attorney, Supervisor Hale, and Trustee Thompson. After the 425 agreement details are ironed out, a joint meeting will be held with the City of Lowell Council, Lowell Township Board, The Right Place, and the developer."
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City would own property and manage police, fire, etc.
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Township would receive 38.21% of property taxes from development...
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According to the
November 2024 - 425 Agreement Approved
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Burtt and Benedict voted 'Nay'
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Some members of the Board and Planning Commission knew about this development in July 2024, perhaps even as far back as 2023...
January 2025 - Jerry Hale signs NDA with Microsoft (Jan 8th)
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Some but not all Board members were "signed in" to the NDA, although they could have been
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A copy of the NDA can be seen here
January 2025 - Zoning Ordinance impact assessment memo shared regarding to PA233 "Renewable Energy Siting"
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Although elected officials knew of the Data Center development, at this time they FAILED to assess the potential zoning impact from a 'Hyperscale Data Centers', and their alignment with the Master Plan and zoning ordinance, even though it would be introduced as part of the Renewable Energy Zoning Ordinance 2025-01Z.
February 10, 2025 - Hyperscale 'Data Centers' added in as a Permitted Land Use at Covenant Industrial Park by RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONING ORDINANCE 2025-01Z
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This is the first time "Data Center's" were defined in the Township zoning ordinance, including the term hyperscale, which is a term to describe the ability to quickly "scale up" processing power required for AI queries
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Because the Covenant Business Park is currently zoned, Industrial - Planned Use Development (I-PUD), "Data Centers" were defined and added as a permitted land use, under the I-PUD designation​
March 10, 2025 - RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONING ORDINANCE 2025-01Z adopted.
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There is ZERO record of the word Data Center, ever being mentioned publicly, during the meeting minutes, or the public hearing address this ordinance.
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Members of the Township were quietly laying the groundwork for the Data Center Development
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I-PUD requires stricter due diligence and oversight obligations than light industrial, meant to protect the community
October 16, 2025 - Application received to rezone Covenant Industrial Park from 'Industrial Planned Use Development (I-PUD)' to 'Light Industrial'; add "Data Warehouse Facilities" as permitted land use
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RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONING ORDINANCE 2025-01Z definition of a ‘data center’ under the I-PUD zoning district not match the requested definition of a ‘data warehouse facility’, although they arethey are referring to the same thing.
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They want to use the word warehouse in the description to align with warehouses which are permitted light industrial land uses
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AI data centers are not warehouses, they are manufacturing facilities
November 6, 2025 - Planning Consultant Brad Kotrba shares Master Plan Recommendations, in response to rezoning application.
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The 2022 Lowell Charter Township Master Plan recommends the I - 96 Planning Area be designated for industrial uses, with limited commercial and service options.
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This land has been zoned for industrial use since the early 1990’s and was rezoned from Light Industrial to Industrial Planned Unit Development by the Township Board in October of 2005 and was recognized on the 2008 Future land Use Map as Industrial.
November 26, 2025 - 'Open house' data center rezoning, announced
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...
December 2, 2025 - City open house
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Led to believe the development was "new" and that it has only been worked on for a few months when in fact it had been in the works for well over a 12-18 months, at least.
December 3, 2025 - Township open house
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Learned that NDA's were signed by the City and Township and that some, but not all members of the baord were made aware of the planned development.
December 8, 2025 - Township Public Hearing on Rezoning
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Prior to this meeting, emailed the Board and City officials about the MANY issues with their proposed rezoning and its conflicts with the Zoning Ordinance, and Master Plan.
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​This meeting was rescheduled due to the room being over capacity and specifically, attendees in the hallway not being able to hear which could violate the Open Meetings Act ​​​​​
December 11, 2025 - Jan 12th, Notice of Public Hearing Published
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Redefining "data centers" which were already added in March 2025 through Ordinance 2025-01Z
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Township request to rezone the 'MDOT' Park and Ride and to remove it from an expired Planned Unit Development district "that will be repealed from the Lowell Charter Township Zoning Ordinance."
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Township request to repeal Zoning Ordinance 03-2005 “Industrial Planned Unit Development District (I-PUD)”
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Township request to ​repeal Chapter 15 – “I-96 Planned Unit Development Zoning District (I-96 PUD)” from the Lowell Charter Township Zoning Ordinance.
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The problem here is that the I-96 Planned Unit Development Zoning District is a key feature of the Master Plan, and instead of the Master Plan leading the zoning decisions, the Planning Commission is trying to make ordinances which contradict the Master Plan.
December 22, 2025 - Rezoning application "tabled"
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Jerry Hale requests that Franklin Partners "table" its rezoning application...
February 23, 2026 - NDA cancelled
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Included on Cc, were Mark Anderson; Carlton Blough; Andy Vander Ziel; William Thompson
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Ronda Benedict and Monica Burtt voted against the 425 agreement, due to a lack of transparency and community input.
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Ronda Benedict and Monica Burtt were not included in the NDA.
March 5, 2026 - Microsoft Q&A meeting
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About a dozen tables were set up with experts talking about energy, water, noise, community benefits, etc.
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Many questions and concerns were raise by the community in 1:1 conversations and small group discussions
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No record of these discussions exists. No concerns were documented. No statements made are binding.
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