There might be good reasons to oppose Wake County's decades-long plan to help thirsty Raleigh build the future Little River Reservoir between Rolesville and Zebulon.

But the main objection raised at a public hearing Monday is open to debate.

Opponents complained the county's drafting of a proposal to downzone 6,237 acres in the "critical area" surrounding the six-mile-long reservoir site gave affected property owners little opportunity to weigh in.

It's true that a group of county and town planners met privately to craft a proposed agreement to boost the minimum lot size and bar municipal annexations -- and thus dense development -- near the pristine water supply to help protect it from pollution.

But that's routine. The professional staff proposes a policy, and then elected officials debate it, usually after seeking public input.

That's what happened here.

Wake County's commissioners instructed staffers during a public meeting last summer to proceed with the proposal.

Hundreds of property owners in the watershed of the planned lake received letters explaining the proposed restrictions. (In the end, a couple dozen objected.)

The county ran ads about it in several local newspapers. Planners gave news interviews.

Last fall, county officials hosted four public meetings in north and east Wake to explain details and answer citizens' questions.

The county set up a special Web site and phone line for them, too.

Plus Raleigh, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon held separate public meetings about the plan.

And before Wake's commissioners invited comment at Monday's hearing, the county's Planning Board got public input -- and then endorsed the plan.

"I pride myself on the public process," said Melanie Wilson, Wake's planning director. "We spent a lot of time and resources notifying people. I don't know what else we could have done."

Wake's leaders can try again. A parched county watches, and waits.