Howell AI Data Center: Project Splitrock

An undisclosed developer has been pursuing an AI data center project titled “Splitrock” on a 1,077 acre greenfield site in agricultural Howell Township. Residents of the community found out in August, and by mid September, local grassroots were flooding town hall meetings regarding the developer’s zoning request.

The zoning request to allow the Van Gilder family’s farm to be turned into a “research and technology” site would have required the township to make changes to their master plan, which made no allowances for such heavy industrial zoning uses. 

On September 23rd, after public comments opposing the data center which stretched past 2AM, Howell Township’s planning commission rejected the request to change their master plan and allow the data center. Since then, the developer has withdrawn their project application, at the request of both the developer and the township. Livingston County planning director has been told the developer “wants to reevaluate the project”. 

Meanwhile, grassroots efforts continue, as a petition to place a six month moratorium on data center applications has reached over 1,600 signatures, and Howell’s township board is set to consider the proposal on November 20th.