The new Martha’s Vineyard Hospital was expected to receive approval for a temporary parking plan last night from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, clearing the way for the Oak Bluffs building inspector to issue a certificate of occupancy and employees and patients to begin using the $48 million, 90,000-square-foot facility on Eastville avenue.

Early this week the commission land use planning subcommittee recommended approval of a temporary agreement allowing the hospital to use the parking lot at the Portuguese American Club on Vineyard avenue for overflow parking, while the hospital continues work on a permanent parking solution.

The commission approved the new hospital project in December of 2006 as a development of regional impact (DRI), with conditions. One condition required the hospital to return to the commission for final approval of a parking plan that includes 336 short-term parking spaces. The original plan called for the hospital to provide 256 parking spaces on its campus and another 82 spaces across the street at a property owned by the state Department of Mental Health.

The hospital has been working on a complicated land swap that would allow it to take control of the state land for its parking lot. As part of the deal, the hospital would provide the state DMH with another property, planned to be the Vineyard Medical Services walk-in clinic on State Road in Vineyard Haven. The property is owned by Dr. Michael Jacobs.

With the deal still incomplete, the hospital needed a temporary plan in order to get its final sign-off from the commission. That led to the plan to use the Portuguese American Club.

At a meeting Monday, the MVC land use planning committee heard the details of the new plan, which include creating a 49-lot space at another property the hospital owns next door. That plan may require further review by the commission.

Mark London, executive director of the commission, suggested the commission approve the use of the P.A. Club lot on a temporary basis so the hospital can get its certificate of occupancy.