Data Center Concerns Addressed at Aug 25 Springfield Township Planning Commission Meeting
Residents packed Springfield Township Hall for the August 25, 2026 Planning Commission meeting, with attendance pushing the building’s capacity and some residents left standing in the hallway or outside.
Much of the concern followed social media posts that were not fully informed and, in some cases, incorrectly described what was happening with Springfield Township’s data center zoning discussion and the property at 8300 Andersonville Road. Some residents appeared to come to the meeting believing that a data center project was already being proposed for the property.
Just so we are all on the same page -> There is currently no application for a data center at 8300 Andersonville Road.
At the same time, the confusion did not arise entirely from nowhere. Springfield Township’s own records show that the property had previously been discussed during a December 2025 data center pre-application meeting, when a Cushman & Wakefield representative identified the approximately 84-acre Andersonville Road parcel as his client’s “primary area of interest.”1
The combination of inaccurate information circulating online alongside limited, inconsistent communication from the Township helped create an environment where residents were left trying to piece together what was actually happening. Even though some of the information being shared was incorrect, the underlying questions and concerns were still reasonable ones for residents to bring forward. In the end, the overwhelming presence communicated to the Township that residents are taking data centers seriously.
The full video is available here: https://springfieldtwp.viebit.com/watch?hash=jhe1R42dtqCyODWq
During the Aug 25 planning commission meeting, Springfield Township Trustee Kevin Sclesky, who also serves on the Planning Commission, addressed the discussion surrounding the Andersonville Road property. Sclesky told the packed audience:
“There is a lot of fear mongering going on in our community on social media, the Internet, whatever means you’re getting this disinformation.”
NOTE: The term fear mongering refers to intentionally emphasizing or spreading frightening claims in a way that is meant to provoke fear, often beyond what the facts support. The phrase ‘fear-mongering‘ has become a popular political buzzword to provoke a negative reaction. I saw the data center posts & videos and, from my perspective, many of the concerns appeared to have spiraled from a combination of confusion, misunderstanding, and lack of clear communication from the Township, rather than an intentional effort to frighten residents. Concern for your community does not equal maliciousness.
Trustee Sclesky then introduced Mark Marion, whom he publicly identified as “the owner of the property that’s in question,” and invited him to speak directly to residents.
NOTE: The property at 8300 Andersonville Road is currently owned by a company: 84 Andersonville LLC. Mark Marion’s comments suggest a possible relationship between Raves Development and 84 Andersonville LLC, though public records do not yet clearly show how the two are connected.
Click to view: Oakland County Commercial Profile for Property 8300 Andersonville Road
Speaking on behalf of Raves Development, Marion told residents:
“We have a development stage for that piece of property.”
He then pointed to Supervisor Ric Davis (whom Marion mistakenly referred to as “Richard Davidson”) as someone familiar with those plans.
“You can check with Richard Davidson [Ric Davis]. We’ve been dealing with it for the last year or two.”
“We’ve had offers [to] buy that property and we’ve denied to do that. We want to do our own development there.”
Most importantly for residents concerned about a data center, Marion told the audience that Raves does not want the property developed for that purpose.
His message was straightforward.
Raves intends to pursue its own development of the property, not a data center.
Now, you might be thinking “But Kara, didn’t you mention at the start of this post that this property was specifically discussed at a data center pre-application meeting?” Why yes, neighbor, that is correct.
On December 15, 2025, Springfield Township held a data center ‘pre-application’ meeting attended by Supervisor Richard Davis, Trustee Lori Beatty, Planning Commissioner Steve Felix, Township planning consultant Julia Upfal, Levy Representative Reuben Maxbauer, and Stephen Sevenich of Cushman & Wakefield. Sevenich represented “a long-established data center development group” and described the 84-acre Andersonville Road parcel as the group’s “primary area of interest.” The conversation was detailed. But it remained exactly what its name suggests: only a pre-application meeting.
The Township minutes also make clear that no site plan application could be submitted during the data center moratorium. The current moratorium is set to expire in December 2026. 2
Let’s review the timeline…
DEC. 8, 2025 – Zoning Review Begins
Township planner, Giffels Webster, recommend reviewing and updating Springfield’s data center regulations.
DEC. 11, 2025 – Moratorium Begins
The Township Board adopts a 180-day moratorium on data center applications while new regulations are developed.
DEC. 15, 2025 – Andersonville Property Discussed
At a data center pre-application meeting, a Cushman & Wakefield representative identifies the 84-acre Andersonville Road property as his client’s “primary area of interest.”
MAY 14, 2026 – Moratorium Extended
The Township Board adds another 30 days to the moratorium.
JUNE 15, 2026 – Draft Ordinance Released
A detailed draft of proposed data center and large-scale industrial zoning amendments is released for review.
JUNE 23, 2026 – Planning Commission Review
The Planning Commission reviews the proposed amendments and begins working through the draft.
JULY 9, 2026 – Moratorium Extended Again
The Township Board extends the moratorium to December 2026.
AUG. 25, 2026 – Property Owner Addresses Residents
At a packed Planning Commission meeting, Mark Marion says Raves Development has its own plans for the Andersonville property and does not intend to develop it as a data center.
NOTE: Just a little lunchbox reminder that a prospective developer can investigate a property before owning it. A real estate representative can ask a municipality whether a particular use would be feasible before a purchase agreement exists. A property owner can also receive and reject offers from parties interested in acquiring land.
My completely unsolicited advice to Springfield Township: the title “pre-application” is a tad misleading.
For some residents, that wording naturally suggests that an application is expected to follow. In a situation like this, a term such as “development inquiry,” or “exploratory meeting” may better reflect what actually occurred.
Helpful Tips for Checking Information Before Sharing
As many of you know, I have been a student of the sciences for many years. One of the greatest skills I have been sharpening over the years is verifying sources. I also believe in citing sources as much as possible. This way, you do not have to just ‘take my word’, you can go straight to the source of the information. However, social media is a beast all it’s own.
There are many benefits to social media. I enjoy being able to stay connected with friends and family, near and far (I am also a huge fan of nature and animal reels!). Social media can spread information quickly, including information that is incomplete, outdated, or wrong. It can be difficult to figure out what is true, what is not true, what is a rumor, what is fact, what is opinion, and what is actually fear mongering. My advice to everyone: Before you share it, check it.
It is natural for certain claims to raise alarms, especially when they involve major changes in a community. But that is exactly when it is important to slow down, think critically, and consider not only what is being said, but where the information is coming from. Look for the original source. Check the date. Read the full document or statement instead of relying on a screenshot, caption, or repost. Ask whether the claim is supported by meeting minutes, official records, applications, recordings, or another reliable source. If you cannot verify it, treat it as unconfirmed.
To protect yourself and others from sharing incomplete or misleading information, trace it’s source and ask questions.
Residents are always welcome to share my information with others so I can provide sources and context. I never charge for what I do. My family and I are just Springfield Township residents looking to help the community any way we can.
Call or Text: 248-483-0183
Email: kara@okoenv.com
