Next chapter surfaces for former Hawkins site

Whitman County Commissioners Monday morning discussed potential future action for the former Hawkins development site at the state line next to Moscow.

The approximately 200 acre property was sold to Sand Road Bucklers 2 in September for $900,000.

Commissioner Dean Kinzer Monday reported Roy Druffel, who is listed as one of the principals for the company, recently talked with him about the future development of the site.

Druffel did not return a Gazette call to clarify the nature of the development before press time.

Most of the discussion at the commissioners workshop was that the development would not start with the planning commission, but with the commissioners.

Public Works Director Mark Storey explained the commissioners would have to create a new zone for the development. Discussion alluded the site would be developed into multi-family housing units.

Whitman County only has housing zones for single family residences in cluster zones which groups four family residences onto 20 acres.

The property is zoned commercial.

The change to commercial from agriculture was made by the Hawkins company.

“They actually have a pretty good development plan that’s far less glitzy than the Hawkins one,” Storey commented.

One question brought up was the level of the county’s commitment to the development. Previous boards had entered into agreements with Boise-based Hawkins for the county to provide $9.1 million to the project and then $5.9 million was added for a total of $15 million. When the property was sold, Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy stated the sale marked the end of the county’s commitment to participate in any development of the property.

Storey reported the developers have stated in preliminary meetings they will still go forward with their project with the county out of the equation.

In addition to creating a new county zone, the development would also have to work with the state regarding access to Highway 270.

Commissioners Monday decided they needed more background and information before discussing the topic further.