Brazoria County fighting new facility that would house 43,000 monkeys

Brazoria County gets the best of both worlds in the Houston area. A large part of it contains Pearland, which helps bring the county into the sprawling suburban life of the Houston area. There is also plenty of space to the south that is largely rural and helps keep its old country roots in place.

But with all that space left down near Sweeny and West Columbia comes people ready to buy land and capitalize with major investment. That is specifically the case with Charles River Laboratories, who have purchased 538 acres in the county. The company specialized in raising monkey that ultimately go to medical institutions, and now have plans to build a new housing facility for the 43,000 monkeys.

Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta says the idea has ruffled some local resident feathers.

"I have only heard from about one or two people who see it as a positive...most of the residents of Brazoria County in that area are not in favor of this facility," he says.

The land was purchased via a shell company by the laboratory. Most residents fear the amount of noise and chaos that 43,000 monkeys can possibly make to disrupt their life.

But, as Sebesta explains, they really do not have much recourse as a Commissioner's Court.

"The legislature does not trust local counties to make this decision...we really have no standing in approving or disproving this facility," he says.

It was around early November when Judge Sebesta says it first came to his attention. So, he placed on their Commissioners Court agenda a resolution, signed by the court, asking the state and federal authorities to not issue the permits.

But that is about the extent of his ability to do anything.

"We really do not have much say as a county government on this type of facility...and it is a $100 to $200 million investment from the company, and they say it will bring about 200 jobs," he says. "But we can do without it.

The nearby City of Sweeny wrote to county officials opposing the facility. Rep. Cody Vasut wrote to the company stating that the low-lying land is “ill-suited for any significant development” because the area flooded during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

The move from Charles River Labs comes as their other facility, in south Harris County, becomes overcrowded. Only about 1,000 monkeys can be hosted there.