Hazel Park adopts six-month moratorium on data centers to study local impacts

The Hazel Park City Council approved a six-month moratorium on new data centers as part of the consent agenda on Feb. 10, the maximum duration allowed under the ordinance, to allow staff and council to study potential impacts and zoning safeguards.

Councilwoman Alyssa Sullivan requested the moratorium to permit review of issues that city officials said can accompany data-center proposals, including energy demand, water use, emergency-service needs, land-use changes and fiscal effects on municipal infrastructure and service delivery. Speakers emphasized the action is intended to provide time for study and is not an anti-technology stance.

The moratorium was included in consent agenda item 10; the transcript records the motion to adopt consent agenda items 1–11 and indicates the motion passed. Council members said the pause will allow them and city staff to consider whether zoning or ordinance language needs tightening to protect residents and municipal systems should such proposals arise.

Separately during new business council members requested that the upcoming Flock camera contract (storage and access language) be presented to council ahead of renewal, citing continued public questions about privacy and access and noting that prior negotiations added civil-liberties safeguards.