Tribe: No plans to develop former quarry site

TEMECULA: Tribe: No plans to develop former quarry site Land purchased from Granite to be preserved by tribe Aaron Claverie Speculation started to swirl before the deal had even closed. So what's the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians going to do with the former Liberty Quarry site? Housing and a new golf course? A visitors center? A hotel? A new casino? The answer: Nothing. "At this point, we have no plans for Pu'eska Mountain beyond preservation," said Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro, who specifically addressed those questions during Thursday's ceremony to mark the sale of 354 acres of land that had been part of the proposed site for Granite Construction's quarry project. The tribe sees that land as sacred, tied to their ancestral birthplace. The purchase wrapped up a seven-year drama that pitted Granite against the city of Temecula, the tribe, area environmentalists and a coalition of doctors that were united in their opposition to the proposed quarry. The total site for the quarry was 414 acres, but the 60 acres that were not part of the sale are isolated in the northern corner. Asked whether the tribe is looking to buy that last chunk, the tribe's director of public affairs, Jacob Mejia, said Monday that the tribal council was very focused on finalizing the agreement that was announced last week. "At this point, no decisions have been made about other land in the area," he said. During the long series of public hearings on the project, Granite's legal team and project supporters tried to undercut the tribe's position in order to smooth approval of the project. They said the tribe had supported the city of Temecula's attempts to annex the land, which could have set the stage for the development of estate houses, and they said the quarry site was well away from the tribe's most sacred sites. The tribe rebutted both arguments, saying annexation would have killed the quarry project and that housing was not anticipated for that property because of the terrain and access issues. As for proximity, the tribe said the entire mountain is sacred and that measuring the distance from certain sacred sites doesn't show respect for their beliefs. Shortly after the news of the sale was announced, Temecula Mayor Chuck Washington said the city would float the idea of annexation and ask the tribe whether it wanted that land to become part of the city. Mejia said Friday that those comments were made before the tribal chairman announced that the land would be added to the tribe's reservation and preserved. "As we know too well, land can be taken from its rightful owner by a government with eminent domain. We have no idea what the future holds for county government, and we have no intention of trusting in others to preserve this sacred mountain," Macarro said. Later during his speech, Macarro said the benefits of preservation go beyond the land's importance for the tribe. He said that not building there will benefit the entire region's quality of life and allow the land to be appreciated by future generations. "The story of this mountain is not over," he said. The tribe's decision to forgo development was applauded by several groups: area real estate professionals who were concerned that development could negatively affect property values and air quality in the Redhawk region; environmentalists who were concerned about development severing a habitat linkage; and scientists who work at an ecological reserve to the west managed by San Diego State University. Matt Rahn, director for research for SDSU's field station programs, said the quarry would have effectively ended decades of work at the reserve and turned it into a laboratory for the study of mining operations. Now, he said, the station's 50-year legacy of research and study can be expanded upon. "Hopefully we'll get another 50," he said.