Wayne County officials granted preliminary approval for a massive 280-acre data center in Van Buren Township after a heated five-hour meeting. The project, dubbed "Project Cannoli" by developer Panattoni Development Co., advances despite strong community opposition over its scale and utility demands.

At the heart of the debate is the project's "by right" zoning status, which Panattoni argues eliminates the need for rezoning or special exceptions. The company maintains the land is already zoned for data centers and seeks only site plan approval. Residents, however, claim they weren't adequately informed about the project's full scope during early outreach, creating a trust deficit that fueled opposition.

The planning commission approved the proposal 5-2, but the decision comes with conditions. These include a development agreement requirement, water usage limits of 0.75 million gallons per day, and construction impact mitigation measures. The approval doesn't guarantee final clearance, as the township board must still authorize the development agreement before proceeding.