EAST WENATCHEE -- Douglas County commissioners are holding a public hearing Monday on a proposed rezone that would allow State Parks to extend Wenatchee's riverfront recreational Loop Trail to Rocky Reach Dam.

Proponents and opponents of the extension have been battling before government boards and courts for about 15 years. They say it would be nice if this were the final chapter, but neither side thinks it is.

Bob Parlette, co-chairman of the Complete the Loop Coalition which supports the trail, says the hearing will be the "last shot this year" if State Parks and the coalition loses but that "we will keep coming back until we get this trail built." He said it may become a campaign issue in county commission races if commissioners turn it down.

Jack Feil, orchardist and leader of the Baker Flats Right to Farm Association which opposes the trail, says he thinks the association would want to consult with its attorney but that he believes it would fight on if commissioners approve the rezone.

"It would be awfully difficult to farm out here. It's zoned commercial agriculture and is protected farm land. That's important. Farm land is getting scarce all the time and with prices of apples, wheat and cherries being good I don't think anyone (any grower) is anxious to convert anything from ag," Feil said.

Parlette said the plan to extend the trail 5.1 miles, from Odabashian Bridge to Lincoln Rock State Park next to Rocky Reach Dam, is extremely popular among recreationists. He said he has petitions of support, signed by more than 1,100 people, that he will give commissioners Monday.

"I'm not giving up. It either has to be me or Jack Feil. One of us has to die first," Parlette said with a laugh.

Parlette said he expects 200 to 300 trail extension supporters to attend the 5:30 p.m. hearing in the Eastmont Junior High School commons. Parlette and Andy Dappen, content editor of WenatcheeOutdoors.org, sent a combined e-mail to trail supporters urging them to attend the hearing suggesting talking points.

Curtis Lillquist, a senior county planner, said he expects the hearing to go at least two hours. Each side has been given half an hour for presentations following a staff report and then time will be provided for public comments.

The trail extension has been approved by the state's Shorelines Hearing Board but a recreational zoning overlay on top of agricultural zoning has been the battleground.

Parlette said State Parks at one time had $1.2 million in state and federal grants to build the trail. Some of the federal money was used for design work, but $550,000 in state grants was lost because it wasn't spent on time, he said.

The Complete the Loop Coalition has $200,000 of its own money for trail construction and the Chelan County PUD has committed to giving $500,000 as part of the recreation component of the relicensing of Rocky Reach Dam. The PUD and coalition money would be enough to get construction going, he said, noting that the trail wouldn't have to be paved right away if that helped to get it started.

Dan Wheat: 664-7150

wheat@wenworld.com

If you go

What: Public hearing on Rocky Reach extension of Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail

When: 5:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Eastmont Junior High School commons

Information: 884-7173 or www.douglascountywa.net (click on current projects)