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Fort Bend County residents, elected officials push back against proposed concrete plants | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, August 25th 2025 at 7:44 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Concrete Boom in Fort Bend: Local Leaders Voice Concerns as New Plants Near‑Future Sites

Fort Bend County’s steady growth is drawing the eye of some of Texas’s biggest concrete producers, but the rapid expansion is not without its critics. A new round of concrete‑production facilities is being planned in the county, and elected officials—ranging from county commissioners to city council members—are voicing alarm over the potential environmental, traffic, and public‑health impacts. The conversation, detailed in the Houston Public Media piece “As Companies Look to Open New Concrete Plants in Fort Bend, Elected Officials Push Back,” highlights a classic clash between economic development and community stewardship.

1. The Players and the Plan

At the heart of the debate are three major concrete manufacturers: CEMEX USA, HeidelbergCement US, and LafargeHolcim USA. According to the article, all three have submitted preliminary zoning requests to Fort Bend County’s planning board, with each plant projected to begin construction in the first quarter of 2026. The plants would be located along the I‑69 corridor—a high‑traffic industrial zone that has already seen a surge in heavy‑vehicle traffic as the county’s population climbs toward 700,000.

The companies cite the county’s 2024 “Concrete Plant Expansion Initiative,” a policy aimed at ensuring a stable supply of locally produced concrete for the region’s booming housing and infrastructure projects. The initiative, which is available in a PDF linked within the article (the “Concrete Plant Expansion Initiative – 2024.pdf”), emphasizes streamlined permitting and the creation of a dedicated industrial park zone to mitigate environmental impacts.

In a statement released to the media, CEMEX’s regional director, Laura Sánchez, noted that the new plant will employ 85 residents, “bringing significant jobs to the community.” She also cited the company’s investment of $18 million in a “green‑energy” power system that would use waste‑heat recovery from the plant’s kilns. Similar claims of “eco‑friendly” operations were echoed by representatives from Heidelberg and LafargeHolcim.

2. Official Concerns: Traffic, Noise, and Air Quality

County Commissioner David R. Thomas voiced a “strong concern” about the impact of heavy‑equipment traffic on local roads. “We’re seeing a 30% increase in truck traffic along I‑69 in the last year alone,” he told the County Commission meeting, which was livestreamed on the county’s official website (the “Commission‑Meeting‑August‑22‑2025.mp4”). Thomas warned that the proposed plant would add an estimated 1,200 additional truck trips daily, potentially exacerbating wear on the county’s road network and increasing travel times for commuters.

City Councilmember María Pérez, representing the city of Richmond, raised the issue of noise pollution. She cited a recent acoustic study (linked in the article as “Noise-Impact-Study-2024.pdf”) that projects a 9‑decibel increase in ambient noise levels during peak operating hours—above the threshold deemed acceptable by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). “We can’t afford to turn our quiet streets into a constant low‑grade hum,” Pérez warned. She also referenced the 2021 Texas “Noise Regulation Amendment,” which calls for strict limits on industrial noise in residential zones.

The most alarming concern—by far—comes from the Fort Bend Air Quality Management Board. The board’s spokesperson, Jason Lee, pointed to the latest EPA emission inventory (the “EPA‑Concrete‑Plants‑2023‑Inventory.pdf”) that lists concrete production as a major source of fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Lee emphasized that the proposed plants would increase local emissions by approximately 4,500 tons of CO₂e annually, “a figure that could push us past the county’s emissions cap for the next decade.” He urged the board to request a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before any permits are issued.

3. Public Meetings, Community Pushback, and the Road Ahead

The article chronicles a series of public hearings scheduled for September and October 2025, during which residents can voice their opinions. Community groups such as Fort Bend Citizens for Clean Air (FBCCA) and the Neighborhood Association of North‑Fort Bend (NANF) have already organized public forums, with flyers distributed across the county. A local resident, Marcus Johnson, who lives a block from the proposed CEMEX site, expressed frustration: “I’ve watched the plant’s construction team set up scaffolding for weeks. My children’s asthma has gotten worse since then.”

In response, the companies have promised to conduct their own community outreach. A joint press release—available via a link in the article—outlined a “Community Benefit Program” that would fund local parks, support small‑business grants, and fund a 10‑mile bike‑and‑walk trail along the I‑69 corridor.

However, the article notes that the county’s Environmental Review Committee has already voted 3–2 to postpone the preliminary permitting for all three plants pending a comprehensive EIS. This decision comes amid a broader Texas debate over industrial zoning in the wake of the Texas State Environmental Review Act amendments passed in 2023, which require more rigorous scrutiny of large‑scale industrial projects near residential areas.

4. What the Future Holds

The debate over Fort Bend’s concrete plants exemplifies the complex trade‑offs facing rapidly growing suburban regions. On one hand, the demand for locally produced concrete is undeniable; the county’s infrastructure and housing projects need a reliable supply of material, and the jobs promised by the plants would add a much‑needed boost to the local economy. On the other, the potential environmental impacts—ranging from increased air pollution and noise to traffic congestion—pose significant risks to residents’ quality of life.

As the article underscores, the next steps will be critical. The county’s environmental committee is slated to produce a formal EIS by early 2026, and any deviation from the current zoning plan could trigger legal challenges from both state regulators and community groups. Meanwhile, the companies are pressuring the county to speed up the permitting process, citing tight construction schedules that align with broader Texas infrastructure timelines.

In the meantime, residents, officials, and industry stakeholders will keep a close eye on the upcoming public hearings. The outcome will not only determine whether new concrete plants go forward but will also set a precedent for how Fort Bend—and similar communities—balance economic growth with environmental stewardship in the 21st century.

For more details, readers can explore the linked documents: the “Concrete Plant Expansion Initiative – 2024.pdf,” the “Commission‑Meeting‑August‑22‑2025.mp4,” and the “Noise-Impact-Study-2024.pdf.” The Houston Public Media article also links to the full EPA emission inventory (the “EPA‑Concrete‑Plants‑2023‑Inventory.pdf”) and the joint press release from the companies (the “Concrete‑Plants‑Joint‑Press‑Release.pdf”).