The developer of a proposed zip line in Waimalu has not yet made a decision whether to proceed with the $1 million attraction that many residents say would turn their quiet neighborhood into a tourist hub.

The project by an affiliate of Towne Development of Hawaii Inc. calls for seven pairs of zip lines and a 1,200-square-foot nature center on a 447-acre property, zoned for conservation use, in a forested area above the Royal Summit neighborhood. The zip line would be part of what the developer dubbed a "nature park," which is an allowable use for areas zoned as conservation, but Towne would need a conservation district use permit from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The company has until October to complete an environmental impact statement or request an extension after DLNR said issues, including the social and economic impacts to the community and the long-term parameters for developing the parcel in Newtown, a neighborhood of about 2,500 homes, should be addressed. DLNR also noted that visitor destinations on Oahu have typically been developed in Waikiki and other designated areas, including Ko Olina, Makaha Valley and Laie.

Jim Fulton, a consultant with the company who has been working on the project, would not comment on whether it intends to conduct an environmental impact statement.

"The application is still open," he said. "We haven’t made a decision whether to move forward or not move forward."

Opponents have repeatedly voiced concerns about issues regarding traffic and increased activity. Some have suggested that a nature center is an excuse to secure a permit.

Then-City Councilman Breene Harimoto, then-state Sen. David Ige and then-state Rep. Mark Takai testified against the plan at a hearing last year, with more than 150 Aiea-area residents in attendance, most of whom spoke out against the project.

"It was clear that all the area residents had large concerns and objections, and it didn’t look like the developer was really trying to work with them," said Harimoto, who lives in Pearl City and now represents Newtown as a state senator. "Their fears are real to them and they live there. I think it’s the developer’s responsibility to address their concerns."

A representative of the Newtown Estates Community Association submitted a petition to DLNR signed by 1,488 residents opposing the project. Gordon Matsuoka, president of the association, said the board "remains neutral because it (the site) is not part of our association."

The Aiea Neighborhood Board voted unanimously last year to oppose the project.

"They want to put in tourist-oriented development in a residential neighborhood," said Michael Dwyer, a 30-year resident of Royal Summit and member of the Aiea Neighborhood Board. "I have not talked to one resident that was actually in favor of this."

Towne Development said in an environmental assessment that its operations would have a minor impact on traffic and would help to eliminate a trespassing problem at the site. The company estimated they would run an average of 15 tours a day and would pick up groups from a collection point in vans making about 33 round trips each day. They said customers would not be allowed to drive or walk onto the property.

"We feel that … it should be a permissible use," Fulton said. "We want to work with the community … that any impact would be minimal."

But Dwyer, who enjoys his quiet community, said a zip line is not a good fit for the neighborhood.

"I see nothing for the residents other than an intrusion," he said.