Maui Planning Commission decided unanimously to postpone discussion on the draft environmental assessment for the proposed Maui Medical Plaza building and parking garage in Kahului next to the Kanaha wetlands.  They’ll take it up again at their next meeting in the second week of August.

Commissioner Ward Mardfin said that the Commission took this step because of time constraints “not that we didn’t have some concerns.”

The Maui Medical Plaza aka Kanaha Professional Plaza project would cost an estimated $35 million to construct the building’s outer “shell,” lanais and parking garage, said development partner and real estate broker Robert McDaniel III who is acting as agent for land-owner, Benjamin Brown of Billings Montatana.  He plans of building a six-story, 132,685-square-foot building with a six-story, 365-space parking structure at 151 Hana Highway, between Kamehameha and Wakea avenues.

The developer seems optimistic that he can rent the offices despite the empty office building located right next to the hospital.

Several commission members expressed concerns about the project because of its location next to the Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, a federally recognized endangered bird preserve.  The land on which it will be built has been considered for the sanctuary when sea level rises flood out the existing wetlands.

McDaniel has plans to construct two lined retention ponds with filters for the property, which has a drainage canal between it and the sanctuary.  He feels this will take care of the problem of the lot being wetland.

Commissioner Jack Freitas has concerns:  Kanaha has been known to flood and the extra runoff from the roof and asphalt is worrisome.  Also, the project would will add more traffic onto already congested Hana Highway.

According to McDaniel and a letter in the draft environmental assessment, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to endorse a deal made between Maui Coastal Land Trust and Kanaha Professional Plaza LLC, which is made up of McDaniel and his partners, Dr. James Hansen and property owner Ben Brown.

In order to compensate for the lost wetland, the company agreed to rehabilitate 5 acres in the land trust’s Waihee refuge, McDaniel said. That means taking measures such as restoring groundwater flow currently blocked and removing invasive species.

McDaniel said it is the last piece of undeveloped property in the Kahului industrial area.  Some residents are critical of using industrial property for offices and retail.

Still, Freitas said he isn’t ready quite yet to sign off on the medical plaza.