A Spokane man has filed a State Environmental Policy Act application with the city of Airway Heights to develop a 4.5-acre parcel for what he hopes eventually will accommodate 115 enclosed storage units for boats and recreational vehicles.

Mark Turpen, the applicant, says he wants to build RPL Storage Inc. at 11822 W. 21st, which is near the northeast corner of West 21st Avenue and South Garfield Road and immediately south of Zak Designs Inc.

“I’ve just always wanted to own my own storage unit complex,” says the 44-year-old Turpen, who adds that RPL Storage is his first business venture. “RV and boat sales are really strong, so I want to provide a place for people to store their stuff.”

Turpen estimates the initial phase of the project will cost $500,000 and says he hopes to have it completed by the end of summer or early fall.

Spokane County Assessor’s Office records show Mark and Nicole Turpen purchased the parcel on Aug. 20, 2020, for $365,000.

Airway Heights-based E&H Engineering Inc is the project engineer. E&H owner and president, Tom Haggarty Jr., says project plans call for RPL Storage to operate as a self-access and self-service storage site.

“There won’t be an employee present,” says Haggarty, whose father Tom Haggarty Sr. founded E&H in 1995.

Haggarty says the initial phase calls for the construction of the first three buildings, which will have a total of 25 storage units. Three of the units will be 12 feet wide by 40 feet in length with the remaining 22 units slated to be 12 feet by 48 feet.

The structures will be pole buildings with concrete floors, Haggarty says.