A Spokane real estate company has taken a preliminary step toward dividing nearly 12 acres of vacant light industrial property on the West Plains into 16 lots and possibly making them available for sale.

The company, Hawkins Edwards Inc., submitted a binding site plan application for the property, located in a semirural area at the northeast corner of the intersection of Fosseen and Thorpe roads on the south side of Interstate 90, to Spokane County in late October.

The property, previously zoned industrial by the county but changed to light industrial, is located east of Spokane International Airport and a short distance south of the Geiger Boulevard interchange.

Larry Smith & Partners, of Spokane, is listed on the application as the owner of the 11.63 acres.

County planning officials couldn't be reached immediately for comment on the application, and Dick Edwards, one of the principals in Hawkins Edwards, declines to discuss it.

The application filed with the county, however, says future use of the site will be the sale of the divided lots, and further binding site plan and building permit activities by other parties.

The city of Spokane provides water and sewer service to the property.