Quarry Plan Stalled by County Deadlock

A deadlocked vote by county supervisors has apparently derailed a proposed quarry for Merriam Mountain near Escondido, but the plan will get a second chance June 3.

H. G. Fenton Materials Co. wants to mine about half of a 501-acre site north of Escondido, removing 50 million tons of rock over the next three decades. The company also proposes to build a freeway interchange on Interstate 15 for truck traffic at the quarry.

On Wednesday, the Board of Supervisors split, 2 to 2, over the project, with one abstention, but a quirk in county law will bring the matter back to the board again and again until somebody changes his or her vote--or until supervisors overturn the law that requires three votes on such matters.

The next supervisors’ meeting is June 3.

It was unclear Thursday how the issue will be resolved. The quarry was supported by Supervisors George Bailey and Brian Bilbray and opposed by Supervisors Leon Williams and John MacDonald. Supervisor Susan Golding abstained, on the advice of county attorneys, saying she had seen outside communication in favor of the project that might “compromise” her vote.

With Golding out of the picture, Bilbray expects the project’s opponents--Williams and MacDonald--to suggest revisions that would make the quarry acceptable to them.

“It’s easier to change your mind in favor of something, if your concerns (about traffic and the environment) are met, than to find new reasons to oppose something,” sad John Woodard, Bilbray’s chief of staff.

However, Woodard conceded that quarry opponents might expect supporters to cave in. If no compromise can be reached, the supervisors conceivably could delay the matter until a new board is sworn in next January, he said.

MacDonald is unlikely to want the project revived, a spokesman said Thursday.

MacDonald, whose district includes the proposed quarry site, has said the project would clash with the area’s rural residential character, an assessment backed by county staff, the county Planning Commission, and many area residents and business owners.

Quarry opponents also argue that truck traffic, noise and dust from the operation would wreak havoc on nearby resort businesses, and would disturb the serenity of neighboring Lawrence Welk Village, Twin Oaks Valley, Vista Valley and Hidden Meadows.

At Wednesday’s meeting, MacDonald also rejected arguments that the quarry is needed to counter a local shortage of rock products needed in construction.