The Fight's Not Over

Granite Construction's plan to build a quarry next to Temecula was shot down, but the fight's not over.

The decision will soon be appealed, which will send it to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors for a final vote, said Karie Reuther, spokesperson for Granite.

"We're looking forward to going to the Board of Supervisors," she said. "We know the technical studies show Riverside County will benefit."

The planning commission voted 4-1 Wednesday to deny giving the company surface mining permits and an exception to the noise ordinance. To read about the vote,

Quarry opponents rejoice

The board room was packed with people wearing orange shirts -- the color adopted by opponents of the quarry. About 10 people wore the green shirts sported by quarry supporters.

As the commission's Chairman John Roth announced the project was denied with a 4-1 vote, the orange-clad crowd rose to their feet and applauded.

The fight was a long one, said Mariann Byers, board member for the anti-quarry group SOS-Hills.

"It's been so many years we've been fighting this fight. We put our lives on hold," she said.

As audience members filed out of the board room, many slapped each other's backs, hugged and even shed a few tears.

"This was a good day for us. It was a good day for Temecula," said Charles Coe. "One hundred thousand-plus residents can't be wrong."

A vow to fight

The City of Temecula will keep fighting the quarry, said Councilmember Mike Naggar.

"We're going to have to communicate with the (board of supervisors) effectively what's at stake," he said.

No project in planning commission Chairman John Roth's 19-year history behind the dais ever stirred up such passion, he said.

"I have never seen a project that engendered the controversy or emotions this project has," Roth said.

The project was slated for a 415-acre lot just south of Temecula. To read about it,.

The next move

This project would have to go to the board of supervisors even if it were approved by the planning commission, Reuther said.

The project needed a zoning change to allow the quarry and its two processing facilities.

It's more like a zone "clarification" than a change, Reuther said. "In another county, a quarry was closed, but the asphalt plant kept running," she said.

This caused problems, so the county wanted to put language in the zoning to be exact. "It's a zoning clarification. They want to make sure we can operate all three in the zone," she said. "Right now, we can, but (the zoning) is a little vague."

Getting the exception to the noise ordinance is a little trifling too, since the project's area already violates it due to Interstate 15.

"Right now, that open space is exceeding the noise ordinance," she said, "only the county can't enforce it because there's nobody to fine. There's nothing but dirt."