11/07/2025
🚜 Megasites, Eminent Domain, and Farmland in Michigan
The development of "megasites" in Michigan, particularly in areas like Marshall and the proposed project in Saline Township, has ignited a significant controversy regarding the use of eminent domain to acquire private property for industrial development.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) have championed the creation of these massive parcels—such as the over 1,800-acre site in Marshall intended for the Ford BlueOval Battery Park—as crucial for securing major industrial investments, economic growth, and future jobs for the state. To assemble sites of this size, the state relies on land acquisition, which in some cases has involved the threat or actual use of eminent domain—the government’s power to take private property for public use, provided just compensation is paid.
This practice has drawn strong criticism from property owners and community activists, notably the "Committee for Marshall—Not the Megasite" and residents in Saline Township. Their concerns are manifold:
Loss of Farmland: The sites often encompass hundreds of acres of prime agricultural land, raising alarms about the permanent destruction of local food production and traditional farming communities.
Property Rights: Families, some of whom have owned their land for generations, object to the condemnation of their homes, farms, and even historic structures, arguing that transferring land from one private owner to another for "economic development" violates the spirit of Michigan’s post-2006 constitutional amendments designed to restrict such use of eminent domain.
Lack of Transparency: Critics have also raised concerns about the process, citing a lack of local input and transparency in the initial negotiations, which were often bolstered by non-disclosure agreements.
While the Whitmer administration emphasizes the long-term economic benefits and global competitiveness these megasites offer, opponents see a disregard for community heritage, environmental impact, and fundamental property rights. The resulting legal battles and local political struggles underscore a deep conflict between the
