Baxter officials receiving complaints about the construction of the Anatolia plant, saying some structures can be seen from a neighboring subdivision.
City Building Inspector and Codes Officer Bob Lane said the plant owner has made significant progress on the massive manufacturing plant. Lane said neighbors from Vineyard Estates can see the top of the first structure.
“And, you know, I told him we’re probably never going to build a fence tall enough to probably hide it, but course you have the right to put up a privacy fence,” Lane said. “And since they’re not in the city, the city limits stops where this industrial plant’s property stops.”
Lane said if the neighborhood was in the city limits, the city would require ownership to insert a privacy fence or vegetation strip to buffer the two areas. Lane said he is confident the city can partner with the company and find a solution that works for all parties.
“I’m going to talk to him about that. He’s a pretty good guy,” Lane said. “I’m going to talk to him and see if something can’t be worked out.”
Lane said inserting a vegetation strip to grow trees could obscure the view of the plant in the future. Lane said Evergreen trees would grow to the height required, 80 to 100 feet.
“People that’s bought this property, thinking they was in the country and nothing like this would happen, but they didn’t realize how close to the city limits [they were], that subdivision actually backs right up to this now.”
Lane said the company want to be a good neighbor to the people living in the subdivision and the surrounding area. Lane said he plans on talking to Islamoglu about the issue and does not anticipate any problems.
“It ain’t a hard fix to do what we’re probably going to have to do sooner or later,” Lane said. “It’s not real expensive, it’s not a hard fix.”
