Township records and planning materials released this month are shedding new light on the mystery surrounding a massive proposed data center in Van Buren Township. The documents point to a little-known company tied to secrecy agreements around Panattoni Development's so-called "Project Cannoli," a plan that has already stirred up concern over its sheer size, power demand and water use.
New documents name Anchor Designs
According to documents obtained by The Detroit News, Van Buren Township entered into a nondisclosure agreement with a company called Anchor Designs LLC that is connected to the data center proposal. The filings do not identify an operator or end user, leaving open the possibility that Anchor Designs could be acting as a consultant, a shell company or the eventual tenant.
What the project would look like
Panattoni's application, filed under PDC AK LPIC, LLC, calls for three data buildings and related facilities on roughly 282 acres north of I-94 between Haggerty Road and I-275, according to the township planning packet. The township's FAQ and site plans estimate the campus could draw about 1 gigawatt of electricity and use between roughly 2 million and 3.6 million gallons of water per day, numbers that have become a flash point for neighbors.
The Van Buren planning commission granted preliminary site plan approval in February on a 5-2 vote, moving the proposal on to the township board for further review. Local coverage highlighted a packed and heated public meeting as residents lined up to weigh in.
Developer response and secrecy
The appearance of Anchor Designs in confidentiality paperwork has only sharpened questions about who is really behind the end user for Project Cannoli. A Panattoni spokesperson defended the use of nondisclosure agreements in development deals but declined to say whether Anchor Designs and Panattoni are connected, according to The Detroit News.
Neighbors and public health advocates push back
Residents who crowded into the planning commission meeting blasted the secrecy surrounding the project and raised environmental and quality of life concerns, including potential diesel generator noise and strain on local water supplies, according to local reporting. The township packet notes a resident accusing officials of moving ahead "behind residents' backs" with nondisclosure agreement signage, underscoring how confidentiality has become a central complaint in public comment.
Regional outlets and community groups have continued to call for more transparency and additional environmental review before any final approvals are issued.
What comes next
With preliminary approval secured, the proposal now heads to the Township Board for further consideration and the possibility of added conditions before any final site plan vote, according to township documents. Hoodline coverage of the commission vote noted that the latest confidentiality disclosures are likely to fuel a new round of questions at upcoming board hearings, where residents will again have a chance to press for more details.
