What’s Being Decided
On August 4, 2026, Cascade Township voters will cast ballots on a single yes/no question: should the township’s new zoning ordinance — adopted by the Board of Trustees in February 2026 — stay in effect, or should the township revert to rules written in 1989?
The new ordinance (No. 6 of 2025) was adopted by a 4‑3 board vote on February 11, 2026. A petition by residents triggered this referendum. Commissioners note that “a lot of misinformation” is circulating and have scheduled public information sessions in early June 2026.
This vote is happening in parallel with the data center moratorium: the Planning Commission must finalize permanent data center standards by September 11, 2026 — and the outcome of the zoning vote will determine which legal framework those standards must fit within.
The Exact Ballot Question
“Shall Ordinance No. 6 of 2025, ‘Cascade Township Zoning Ordinance,’ adopted by the Cascade Township Board on February 11, 2026, which updates and replaces the Township zoning ordinance originally adopted in 1989, be approved?”
The new Ordinance No. 6 of 2025 goes into full effect. Township operates under updated rules designed to match the 2024 Master Plan’s “smart growth” goals.
The old 1989 zoning ordinance is reinstated. The Board must restart the update process from scratch. The current 1989 rules remain in effect during that period.
What the New Ordinance Actually Changes
The 1989 ordinance was written when Cascade Township was a different place — the rules were designed for big-box retail and heavy industrial growth, not the township’s current mix of residential neighborhoods, village center, and rural east end. Per the township’s own documentation, the new ordinance aims to:
- Preserve rural character on the east end, protecting single-family neighborhoods from incompatible density
- Enhance the village area with walkability standards and design requirements near Cascade Road
- Update the 28th Street corridor with new development standards for the commercial spine
- Address data centers and large industrial — the new rules include standards that didn’t exist in 1989 for high-power, high-water-use industrial facilities
- Modernize private road and subdivision standards — the board temporarily reinstated old private street ordinances (Resolution 013‑2026) to avoid a regulatory gap while the referendum is pending
The township adopted a new Master Plan in 2024 after extensive public input. The new zoning ordinance is intended to implement that plan’s priorities.
Source: March 11, 2026 Board Packet · cascadetwp.com
The Two Sides
- The 1989 rules were written for a different era — they don’t address data centers, modern stormwater management, or current design expectations
- The new ordinance reflects two years of public input through the 2024 Master Plan process
- Without updated rules, the township has weaker footing to regulate new industrial and commercial development
- A “no” vote restarts a multi-year process, leaving old rules in place during a period of intense development pressure
- The 4‑3 board vote signals significant division — not a community consensus
- Critics argue the density provisions allow development that conflicts with rural character goals
- The petition process itself reflects a belief that the board moved faster than residents were ready for
- Residents who oppose data centers question whether the new ordinance’s standards are strong enough
How the Township Got Here
This referendum didn’t happen overnight. The sequence:
- 2024: Township adopts new Master Plan after public input process. The plan calls for updated zoning to reflect “smart growth” priorities.
- 2025: Township drafts Zoning Ordinance No. 6 of 2025 to implement the Master Plan. Planning Commission reviews and recommends.
- February 11, 2026: Board of Trustees adopts the new ordinance 4‑3 — the close vote reflects real division on the board about provisions affecting density and development.
- Spring 2026: Residents file a referendum petition, triggering the August 4 ballot under Michigan township law.
- March 11, 2026: Same board meeting where the moratorium passes also addresses the regulatory gap created by the pending referendum — temporarily reinstating old private streets/subdivision ordinances (Resolutions 013 and 014‑2026, 4‑3 vote) to avoid a period with no enforceable rules.
- May 18, 2026: Planning Commission notes zoning referendum pending and urges residents to get accurate information before voting.
- August 4, 2026: Voters decide.
Source: March 11 Board Packet · May 18 PC Meeting
What This Means for Data Center Regulation
The zoning referendum and the data center moratorium are running on parallel tracks with a shared deadline:
- The moratorium (Resolution 010-2026) expires September 11, 2026 — whether or not the referendum has been decided by then
- The Planning Commission is drafting permanent data center standards that must fit within whatever zoning framework is in place after August 4
- If voters say Yes: the new ordinance’s modern industrial standards provide the framework; the PC’s work plugs directly into it
- If voters say No: the 1989 ordinance is reinstated, which has no specific data center provisions; the Board would need additional action to create enforceable standards before the moratorium expires
This means the August 4 vote is not just about general zoning — it directly affects whether Cascade Township has legally solid ground to regulate Microsoft-scale data center development in the township.
How to Make Your Vote Count
- Attend the township’s information sessions (early June 2026): The Planning Commission specifically urged attendance to counter misinformation. Check cascadetwp.com for dates and locations.
- Register to vote: Michigan Voter Information Center — deadline is typically 15 days before the election.
- Read the ordinance: The full text of Ordinance No. 6 of 2025 should be available at cascadetwp.com or from the township clerk at (616) 866‑1561.
- Request absentee ballot: Available for all registered voters in Michigan. Apply at mvic.sos.state.mi.us.
August 4 is also the state primary election — your ballot will include both the zoning referendum and partisan primary races.
Source: May 18 Planning Commission meeting · Michigan SOS voter portal