Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District was given the OK from the city of Campbell to renovate a building for maintenance and ranger operations, even though the organization does not serve the city.

The city’s planning commission unanimously approved the renovation of a building at 240 Cristich Lane to house the open space district’s maintenance facility and storage yard. The site backs up to the percolation ponds and is adjacent to Edith Morley Park.

Brian Malone, land facilities manager for the open space district, said that although the organization provides open space preserves to San Mateo County and the western portion of Santa Clara County, Campbell is a central location that staff can easily access.

“Campbell is centrally located and adjacent to highways to provide easy access to all those preserves for our maintenance,” Malone told the commission, adding that staff can access several southern open space preserves such as El Sereno, Bear Creek, Saint Joseph’s Hill and Sierra Azul.

The district plans to remodel the 5,600-square-foot building, improve surrounding landscape, and add office space and locker rooms.

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Prior to the open space district taking over the site, the property had been used since 1973 as a storage and maintenance facility by West Valley Charter Lines. It was last remodeled later that decade, according to city staff.

According to the staff report, MidPen anticipates approximately 35-40 employees would report to the office.

“Typical tasks we’d be doing around the shop is small tool maintenance, some fabrication with signs and fencing,” Malone said. “We’d have a woodshop, tools and that kind of stuff in the shop, and then an administrative office in the front of the building.”

MidPen estimates construction to conclude at the end of 2019.

Malone also said the Campbell location would be the nearest site to preserves in Santa Clara County. Another maintenance facility and storage area is located at the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve along Interstate 280.