Saline Township, Michigan, has settled a lawsuit allowing a data center project to proceed.

In September, developer Related Digital filed a lawsuit against Saline Township’s decision to refuse its rezoning application for a data center, alleging that it constituted exclusionary zoning.

But the Township has since voted to settle the lawsuit with the developer, which will allow the data center project to proceed. The consent judgment was filed on October 15 with the Washtenaw County Circuit Court and will require the facility to adhere to certain requirements, including an agreement not to expand the data center, a noise limit, the prohibition of solar farms, and a commitment not to use water-intensive evaporative cooling.

It also provides for various investments in local services and investment funds. The developer has also stated that the facility will bring around $1.6 million in annual tax revenue through 2039, with an additional $8m going to schools in the area.

Related Digital has also committed to not developing a data center on 476 acres of land in the neighboring Bridgewater Township.

Plans show that the data center will occupy 250 acres on 575 acres of agricultural land north of Michigan Avenue.

The identity of the end-user is currently unknown, but Related Digital has stated that “there are only a handful of companies that can lease a project of this size, such as Microsoft, Oracle, Google, Amazon, Meta, and CoreWeave.” The exact capacity of the data center is currently unclear.

“We are pleased by the Board’s vote and that we were able to reach a resolution that allows this important project to move forward in a responsible way, with great long-term benefits to the surrounding community and respect for [the] township’s character and heritage,” said Related Digital spokesperson Natalie Ravitz.

Local opposition to the data center continues to be fierce, with residents expressing concern about water and electricity use, as well as its impact on the rural character of the Township.

Saline Township, located outside Saline city, is located some 45 miles (72km) west of downtown Detroit. Despite not being a traditional data center hotspot, demand for data centers has pushed operators into the area. This includes Thor Equities, which has faced pushback from local officials after seeking to develop an 800-acre campus in Washtenaw County’s Augusta Township.

Founded in 1972, privately-owned Related Companies has more than $70 billion in assets owned or under development. Its investments include mixed-use, residential, retail, office, and hospitality developments. The company launched its data center arm, Related Digital, earlier this year.