Tesla Inc. is going through opposition from neighborhood and environmental teams over its plan to carry a celebration for 15,000 individuals to have fun the opening of its plant in Austin.

The corporate intends to supply excursions of the 8 million-square-foot facility, meals and two levels with reside music on the invite-only occasion on April 7, based on plans submitted to Travis County, which encompasses Austin. Officers on Tuesday granted approval after listening to testimony from involved neighbors.

Paul DiFiore, a consultant of the Colorado River Conservancy and the Austin-based environmental-justice group PODER, cited noise, blocked roads, mud from building and water air pollution as points.

“This grand opening is just not an alternative to actual neighborhood engagement,” DiFiore mentioned. “I urge you to contemplate rejecting this allow and forcing Tesla to delay their celebration till they begin treating the neighborhood in Japanese Travis County as greater than a workforce for Elon Musk however relatively as neighbors and companions.”

Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has a number of operations within the Lone Star State, lately moved there himself and relocated Tesla’s headquarters to Austin final 12 months. In Brownsville, his SpaceX enterprise has helped invigorate the native economic system, but additionally generated pushback from residents who resent the inflow of wealth and surge in actual property costs that’s accompanied it.

Tesla didn’t reply to a message searching for remark.

The corporate hosted a grand opening celebration for its first European manufacturing facility outdoors Berlin on Tuesday. Police eliminated not less than one protester who was blocking a highway throughout an illustration towards the environmental impacts of the manufacturing facility.