The owners of Orchard Bluff Farms LLC, of Chattaroy, plan to subdivide a portion of that company's 180 acres of land to allow 12 single-family homes in five small groupings, known as rural clusters, to be developed there.

Wally Mattson, who owns the land with his wife, Bonnie, says the rural cluster development will preserve open spaces for wildlife habitat and farming, while allowing the couple to sell a number of smaller, one-acre lots on which people could build homes.

The five clusters would be situated around the outside of the overall property in groups of two and three homes each, Mattson says.

The property is located north of East Orchard Bluff Road and adjacent to Mattson Lane, east of U.S. 2.

The Mattsons plan to divide the properties into a total of 12 about one-acre home sites, in clusters around about 168 acres that would be preserved for farm, orchard, and timber land. The Mattsons currently grow grass, alfalfa, and some fruit there, as well as trees for timber, Mattson says.

"This will allow us to continue farming, in the middle of these houses," Mattson says. He says the surrounding area is mostly farmland, and he anticipates people interested in agriculture or keeping horses for recreation would buy the residential lots. Mattson says he doesn't intend to develop homes there himself.

The Mattsons currently are seeking environmental approval for two of the proposed clusters, says Jerry Basler, a Spokane County associate planner.