Residents Furious After Their Town Board Rejected an OpenAI Data Center, But a Billionaire Developer Forced It Through Anyway

Saline Township, Michigan initially rejected rezoning for a 575-acre data center after local boards opposed the project.

Developer Related Digital sued, and the township later settled, allowing the project to move forward.

The site was later reported to be leased mainly to OpenAI and Oracle for the Stargate AI initiative.

The case highlights how local resistance to major AI infrastructure can be overridden by lawsuits, financing pressure, and zoning tactics.