Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino and Mike Atherton of Waikapu Properties, LLC, developer of Waikapu Country Town signed a Public Partnership Agreement this morning that is intended to expedite construction of needed housing for Maui residents.

Maui County now has the responsibility of satisfying Waikapu Properties' required contribution toward the new Central Maui wastewater treatment plant and extension of Waiale Road. In exchange, Waikapu Properties will build 213 additional residential workforce units, raising the project’s total affordable unit count to 500.

“I want to thank Chair Alice Lee and members of the Maui County Council for supporting this milestone agreement,” Mayor Victorino said. “Working families power our economy and deserve homes they can afford to rent or buy. This innovative partnership represents the kind of creative solutions needed to expedite more residential home construction.”

When complete, Waikapu Country Town will offer more than 1,500 new, single-family, multifamily and rural units, as well as 146 `ohana units. Other features include a 910-acre agricultural preserve, 82 acres of parks and open space, a 12-acre elementary school, sidewalks, paths and trails and a residential town center with shops and support services.