UPDATE | Pleasant Beach zipline put on hold after complaints

Published 8:40 am Monday, January 18, 2016

The proponents for a zipline attraction on the south end of Bainbridge Island said they have put their proposed project on hold.

Rachel DeSpain said that while the project has received much support in the community, some neighbors near the land where the zipline would be built have started to rally against the idea.

“We thought this eco-friendly, non-motorized, family-oriented tour would be a perfect fit for Bainbridge Island and the existing outdoor recreational facilities at Pleasant Beach Village,” she said.

“We have been talking to a lot of people in the community about the project. While the majority of feedback has been positive, some people who live near the proposed area have expressed concerns, and we have been listening to those concerns,” DeSpain wrote in an email to the Review.

“The last thing we want to do is bring an activity to the island without the support of the local community. As a result, we have decided to table the Zipline project for now and focus on our outdoor adventure gear shop at Pleasant Beach Village,” she added.

The shop will focus on renting unique bikes and paddle boards, and will also sell surf wear and bike-, surf- and fly-fishing accessories, as well as island-life inspired gifts.

Rachel and Matthew DeSpain earlier applied for a conditional use permit for their new zipline business with the city of Bainbridge Island.

The proposal, planned for a parcel near the pool at Pleasant Beach, envisioned five zipline cables, 10 aerial platforms, four suspension bridges and two elevated platforms where zipline riders would gear up or down. Gravel trails through the operation were also planned, and the DeSpains said construction and the operation itself would be low-impact.

The proposal prompted some opposition in Pleasant Beach, however, with residents submitting a petition against the project to the city.

Critics raised concerns about increased noise and traffic and questioned whether the project would be safe.

In a letter to the city, opponents said they feared a “loss of peace and tranquility, trees and wildlife” if the zipline project moved forward. Included with the letter were more than 50 signatures in opposition to the project.

Public comment for the proposal wrapped up in late December, and the proposal was expected to go before the Bainbridge Island Planning Commission later this month.

No more.

Still, Rachel DeSpain said there were many misconceptions about the project, with some residents worried about motors and lights — there would be none, she said — and that it would attract hundreds of visitors a day. DeSpain said the tour actually would have averaged about six people at a time, with a dozen maximum, and plans were to only operate seasonally, during daylight hours.

“We made this decision out of respect for our neighbors,” she said. “This is a small community, and we are raising our daughter here. We really do care about the opinions of the community.”

DeSpain said the inspiration behind bringing a zipline tour to Bainbridge came from the couple’s young daughter. The couple moved to the island two years ago from Alaska, where they owned and operated a zipline/canopy tour for a decade.

With options for outdoor recreation on the island limited, DeSpain said, they began exploring the idea for a zipline project on Bainbridge.

The couple will now focus their efforts on their store, which is planned to open in the spring.

“We would like to thank Pleasant Beach Village for believing in us and our vision, and we continue to be grateful for everything they have done to improve the Pleasant Beach area for the enjoyment of the local community,” DeSpain said.