San Marcos

Repeating its action of 2 1/2 years ago, the San Marcos Planning Commission has approved a conditional use permit for the construction of a controversial $220-million trash-to-energy plant adjacent to the county landfill on Questhaven Road.

Opponents of the plant, which will burn garbage to generate electricity and reduce dependence on the landfill, promised to appeal the decision and, in anticipation of that, the City Council already has scheduled hearings to begin July 1.

The City Council majority, which has long supported the project, is expected to approve the plant at the conclusion of the hearings on July 6. The final decision will rest with the voters, who on Sept. 15 will be asked to approve the project by popular vote.

The Planning Commission and City Council had each previously approved the trash plant, proposed by North County Resource Recovery Associates, but that approval was thrown out by the courts, which ruled that the city was negligent in not first ordering an environmental impact report on a general plan amendment that would allow the plant’s construction.

The Planning Commission’s approval, by a unanimous vote Monday night, included approval of an environmental impact report.

Opponents of the plant argue that it will spew dioxins and other toxins into the air, while the builder has maintained that the plant will be safer than continued use of landfills.