Planned Quarry Near Temecula Wins Moreno Valley's Support

The Moreno Valley City Council voted to support an aggregate quarry planned near Temecula.

The council passed a resolution unanimously on Tuesday during its regular meeting.

The mile-long, 135-acre “Liberty Quarry” is planned for a 414-acre site sharing a border with Temecula to the north and west and San Diego County to the south.

The Riverside County Planning Commission is reviewing the plan during a series of . Two already happened, and one is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 2 at Rancho Community Church.

The commission will make a recommendation on the plan, and then the Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to approve it.

The plan drew from many residents, who believe the quarry will emit silica dust – a byproduct of blasting granite – into Temecula’s air, snarl the city’s freeway and cause noise and light pollution for the residents in the rural region immediately surrounding the quarry.

The Moreno City Council decided to take an official stance because the quarry could benefit a wide area, said Mayor Pre-Tem Jesse Molina.

“We need the jobs in this region,” he said. “It is going to be a boost to the economy of the county.”

Moreno Valley is the latest in a string of approvals the quarry won from nearby council members. The cities of Eastvale, Indio and Banning passed resolutions approving the plan, and council members from Hemet, Menifee, Coachella and Wildomar sent personal letters of approval.

The support is far from universal. Temecula and Menifee passed resolutions opposing the plan, and Pechanga Tribal Council members spoke out against it.

The county’s need for aggregate overrides the nearby city’s worries, said Moreno Valley Councilmember Marcelo Co.

“In the future, we look for better roads, we look for better housing, we also look for better buildings,” he said. “In every respect, we got to prepare for that.”

Liberty Quarry will produce construction-grade aggregate, a key ingredient for asphalt and other construction material.

The quarry will reduce the truck traffic flowing through Moreno Valley, Councilmember Robin Hastings said.

“We’re seeing a lot of truck traffic on a two-lane freeway through heavy construction areas, our morning commutes are incredible,” she said. “I understand Temecula’s immediate concerns, but from what I’ve been able to read on this topic and on this particular company, I don’t think they’re going to have the kind of impact they’re saying they’re going to have.”

She commended the company for winning awards for and .

Granite Construction, the Watsonville-based company planning the quarry, welcomed Moreno Valley’s resolution.

“It’s good to see that the region’s civic leaders recognize the tremendous value of Liberty Quarry and want to improve life for everyone here,” said Gary W. Johnson, the company’s aggregate resource development manager.