Escondido

Escondido officials have withdrawn from the fierce battle among North County cities vying to become the home of a proposed San Diego State University campus, deciding instead to back San Marcos in its bid to host the center.

The Escondido City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to join San Marcos leaders in their attempts to persuade the state to build the campus on 578 acres south of California 78 near Twin Oaks Valley Road.

In explaining their unexpected action, council members said the San Marcos lot is larger and more suitable than a 144-acre parcel available in Escondido. In addition, Escondido officials hope that, by uniting to recommend a common site, the two inland cities can better discourage state university officials from placing the campus in Carlsbad, where two sites are being evaluated.

A coastal campus would be less accessible for Escondido residents and would provide fewer economic benefits (jobs, housing construction, commercial development) than a facility in neighboring San Marcos, the council reasoned.

A preliminary consultants’ study to determine the need for a North County branch of SDSU has recommended construction of a four-year campus. A final report will be presented to the state university’s board of trustees next month.