Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation has proposed the construction of a new park baseyard facility at Duke Maliu Field in Kaunakakai.

According to a notice from the state Office of Environmental Quality Control, This new baseyard facility will provide a centralized maintenance facility for all of the Parks and Recreation operations on Molokai.

The county will need to seek a change in zoning; a state land use commission district boundary amendment; a Special Management Area permit; a permit for grading and building, and for noise.

Zoning changes can take up to a year to obtain, according to Baron Sumida, CIP coordinator for Parks and Recreation. “I’m hoping it does happen soon,” said Sumida. This would only be possible if a zoning exemption is granted. The project should take about six months to complete.

The property is approximately 13.145-acre parcel along Kamehameha V Highway, near its intersection with Oki Place.

The new baseyard facility is proposed to be a 5,000-square foot pre-engineered building having the following service areas: Building maintenance and repair shop with a lumber storage room and workshop; maintenance staff area and lunch/meeting room; locker area; staff restroom; two interior storage rooms; irrigation pipes and parts storage room; covered parking area with six stalls and an emergency shower area. The estimated construction cost of the proposed project is $1 million.

The proposed project will require a state land use change from agricultural to urban, and a county zoning land use change from “Interim” to “PK-2, Park.”

The land use changes will be initiated by the county Department of Planning. In addition, an application for a SMA Use Permit has been prepared for review and approval by the Molokai Planning Commission.