Proposed Liberty Quarry will likely remain top local issue in 2010

A grinding controversy over whether to allow a granite mine to open near the boundary of Fallbrook and Temecula will continue to galvanize public and business attention throughout much of this year, leaders of both sides agree.

It will likely be months before the first round of public hearings begin on a proposal to extract 270 million tons of sand, gravel and other materials from an area south of the city over a 75-year period.

And the debate that has unfolded over several years could again be shadowed by a city bid to annex about 4,500 acres that surrounds the hotly-debated Liberty Quarry si...