The fight over a monkey-breeding farm in Hendry County is continuing.
Protestors claim the county violated sunshine laws by not holding public hearings and permitting the facility to open. The county is refuting the claims and on Thursday a judge handed down a decision in the dispute.
Judge James Sloan is in essence saying not so fast.
The county asked for the judge to dismiss the claims – but the judge declined to do that. Instead, Sloan is asking for more evidence.
The monkey breeding facility could house more than 3,200 macaques on the site adjacent to Lehigh Acres. The Hendry county attorney declined to answer our questions after the hearing.
Residents living near the site are pleased with the judge’s decision Thursday not to dismiss the issue.
Opponents of the monkey-breeding farm demonstrated in front of the county’s planning and zoning board. They argued that the property the site is being built on is for agriculture use and not for exotic monkeys.
Protestors say their eventual goal is to shut the facility down.
I agree this is not right. I live next to a monkey farm close it
I WAS A HENDRY COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTER FOR 16 YEARS AND A CODE INFORCEMT INSPECTER. YES THEY NEED TO STOP THE MONKEY FARM. ALSO THEY DID THE SAME ON STATE RD 80. BETWEN LABELLE AND CLEWISTON THIS SHOULD BE PART OF THE SUIT. CHECK THIS OUT. IF NEED MORE INFORMATION CALL ME AT 239-303-3070. I LIVE NEXT TO THIS MONKEY FARM AND I DO NOT LIKE IT.
Would this be an issue if this was a pig farm or a horse ranch or is this merely the result of the neighbors not being aware of the plans before the commission. If the ruling authority was in violation of any Florida law, then that should be corrected and the issue brought up again with public input. Just because we don’t like something should not be the reason for stopping someone from doing what is legal and their right.