Politics & Government

Quarry Hearing Leaves Spectators Guessing

How the supervisors will vote tomorrow is unknown, but some spectators say they have a pretty good guess.

 

Which way the vote on Liberty Quarry will go tomorrow is anybody's guess, but some audience members say they have a fix on how two supervisors will vote.

Several spectators said they think supervisors Jeff Stone and Bob Buster will affirm the 's denial of the quarry.

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The commission denied the Liberty Quarry project late last year, but Granite Construction, the company applying for mining permits, appealed the decision. To read about the denial,

The County is scheduled to vote on the issue tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. at the .

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The other three supervisors are hard to read, many audience members agreed.

"Two of the supervisors (Stone and Buster) seem to have some concerns. The rest are holding their cards close to their chest," said Mark Macarro, a member of the Pechanga Tribal Council.

The tribe spearheaded an effort to defeat the project by sponsoring a bill that would protect the area around land sacred to Indians.

To read about the legislation,   To see a video telling why the site is sacred,

"I have two positives, but I can't figure out the other ones, they're so stoic," said Suzanne Merritt, a Fallbrook resident.

Some said Buster tipped his hand a bit when questioning Granite experts.

"If you can explain to me why we would want a mine that produces fewer jobs per ton and has to ship them farther… then I'll buy it. But until then, I don't see a good reason for it," Buster said to one of Granite's experts during the meeting.

A few audience members said they think John Benoit will vote to approve the quarry.

"He's definitely asking the right questions to lean toward Granite's favor," said Susan Miyamoto, a longtime rival of the quarry whose home sits only yards from the project's edge.

How Chairman John Tavaglione and Supervisor Marion Ashley will vote was anyone's guess.

"I have some idea that it's pretty close. We won't know until the vote is taken," said Temecula member Jeff Comerchero. "I feel very confident that if the Board of Supervisors decide the issue on the facts, they'll uphold the commission's denial."


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