Hotel Company Verbally Committed To Build In Baxter

A hotel company has expressed interest in constructing a new hotel in Baxter on Olan Maxwell Road.

Cookeville Developer Donny Meadows shared plans of a two-phased residential development to the Baxter Planning Commission Thursday. The company has verbally agreed to build on the site.

“I think it’s a great project,” Mayor John Martin said. “Like Donnie said, we’ve got a commitment. We talked to a major hotel out there that would be right below the two building.”

Meadows said the hotel would be below two buildings he described as “lipstick buildings.” Meadows said the metal residences would be targeted for premium renters. Also included in phase one are 15 one-story homes with a patio and garage.

“We feel like our market is going to be distributors or suppliers for the manufacturing that is here,” Meadows said. “These single family homes are 1,600 square feet. They’re three bedrooms, two baths. They’ll be done with a southern flare.”

The Planning Commission approved the required zoning for the residential developments. Meadows said he plans to bring a preliminary plat of the subdivision next month.

Meadows said up to 40 town homes would be constructed in the second phase. Meadows said his company has been working on the project for about a year.

“We’re playing on the layout of it to see what works best,” Meadows said. “They’re all going to be flats. We’re going to put a walking trail in. We’ve got a grilling area. It will be done really nice.”

In other business, the Baxter City Council approved its new fiscal year budget on first reading. City Recorder Sharon Carlile said three new fire fighters are included as well as one water department employee.

No tax increase included in the proposed budget.