A Spokane family trust has submitted to the city of Liberty Lake preliminary plans for an eight-lot commercial development.

The development is proposed for 9.3 acres at 24023 E. Appleway, just south of Interstate 90, according to an application for a preliminary binding site plan filed on behalf of the property owner, Peder R. Heggem Bypass Trust.

Eris Heggem, a trustee, says the family trust doesn't have immediate work on the proposed project, but wants approval of the preliminary binding site plan so it can do site work to ready the property for development when the economy improves.

The site is within a commercial-freeway zone, which allows retail uses, the application says. The lots would range in size from 35,000 square feet to 2.4 acres.

Four lots would be accessed from Appleway Avenue by an interior public road, the application says. The remaining four lots would be accessed by a private road that would connect to the interior road and run parallel to Appleway.

Storhaug Engineering Inc., of Spokane, is the civil engineer on the proposed project and filed the application on behalf of the trust.

The site is directly across I-90 from where the Washington state Department of Transportation plans to relocate a weigh station, says Storhaug's John Konen.

"With the truck stop going in, utilities are going to be right at their doorstep," Konen says of the trust property. "So, it probably would be prudent to get approvals now, at least on paper."

About 90 percent of the site is vacant, and the remainder is occupied by garage, warehouse, and shed buildings that have a total of 13,400 square feet of space, the application says. Professional Crane Inspections and Liberty Lake Auto Repair currently are tenants at the site.