10/02/2026
Statement from Wayne County Commissioner Alex Garza on the Commission’s Override of the County Executive’s Veto
I supported the Wayne County Commission’s decision to override the County Executive’s veto because this vote was about the County Commission’s statutory role, not about approving or rejecting Project Cannoli.
What This Vote Did NOT Do
The override of Resolutions 2026-674 and 2026-675:
• Did not approve construction of the data center
• Did not approve a development agreement
• Did not require Van Buren Township to approve the project
• Did not authorize construction or independently grant the tax abatement
• Did not take the development decision away from Van Buren Township
Those decisions remain within the township and state processes.
The County Commission’s role is limited to the County’s participation as a taxing unit under state law. Van Buren Township is solely responsible for its land-use and development review, including the site-plan process. The Van Buren Township Planning Commission is scheduled to meet in the coming weeks on the proposed site-plan.
My Position on Data Centers:
While the vote taken by the Wayne County Commission was not about approving Project Cannoli, I want to be clear about where I stand.
Regulation is necessary to address the flood of data centers seeking to locate in communities across the state.
Michigan needs to establish comprehensive statewide standards addressing data centers’ impacts on electricity, water, infrastructure, the environment, emergency services, and local communities before approving any new projects.
Until those standards are in place, I support continuing moratoriums on new large-scale data centers.
Approving projects before establishing the rules puts our communities at risk.
Set the rules. Protect our communities. Make developers pay their fair share. Then consider the projects.
Community Benefits:
The County Commission also negotiated a Community Benefits Agreement that includes a $15 million voluntary contribution over 12 years to a Community Benefit Fund for public purposes, including potential investments in senior services, infrastructure and capital improvements, and affordable housing.
County estimates indicate approximately $21.1 million in County revenue over the 12-year period with the PA 198 incentive, in addition to the negotiated community benefits. This would only happen if Van Buren Township approves moving forward with the Data Center, leaving the decision with the local unit of government.
Summary:
There are legitimate questions about Project Cannoli and its potential impacts on our community infrastructure, water, electricity, land use, and environment.
But those policy questions are separate from the legal authority of the County Commission, and the vote taken by the commission.
My vote was about protecting the County Commission’s legal authority, not approving Project Cannoli.
And to be crystal clear:
If I had a legal vote to approve this data center or any other large-scale data center today, I would vote NO.
