A plan to build a multilevel parking lot to help to revitalize Wailuku has been submitted to a state agency.

Under the proposal, Maui County would develop a $15 million, five-tier structure with 421 spaces on the existing municipal parking lot.

The lot currently has 210 spaces, and the net increase in parking spaces with the new parking structure would total 211.

The environmental assessment, initiated by former Mayor Charmaine Tavares’ administration and authorized by the County Council, has been submitted to the state Office of Environmental Quality Control for public review and comment.

Wailuku is the center of government activity with county, state and federal offices but lost its attraction as the center for retail businesses after the development of shopping centers in Kahului in the 1950s and 1960s.

Businesses say one of the barriers to Wailuku’s revitalization is the lack of parking for retail customers.

The idea to develop a multi-tier municipal lot has gone through at least three mayors, including James "Kimo" Apana, who proposed a private-public partnership with a developer that would have included boutiques and charged for parking.

Under Apana’s proposal, the county would have received revenues from parking fees and leases.

Apana lost a re-election bid in 2002, ending his chances of advancing his municipal parking proposal.

The proposal may be viewed at the state Office of Environmental Quality Control website at: oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/EA_and_EIS_Online_Library/Maui/2010s/2011-10-23-DEA-Wailuku-Municipal-Parking.pdf.