Members of a committee focused on developing business parks and preserving open space soon will be asking for help in choosing their replacements.

Members of ECO2 met Wednesday and settled on a list of organizations that will be asked for nominees to serve on the next form of the committee, should it be created by Douglas County commissioners.

The eight-member committee would be composed of three advocates for business development, three advocates for open space and two advocates for farm interests.

“What we’re looking for are people who can look at the big picture,” said Kelvin Heck, ECO2 chairman. “We don’t want to have eight contentious people looking at this. We want eight people who can make a decision and get somewhere.”

ECO2 was formed more than two years ago to heal divisions between business and preservation supporters. The committee intends to ask commissioners as early as next month to take over the effort and appoint a new committee.

ECO2 members hope to receive nominations by Nov. 21, when they are scheduled to pare the list to eight potential nominees to be forwarded to commissioners.

Here are the groups being asked for nominees:

Open space: Kansas Land Trust, Jayhawk Audubon Society, Wakarusa Chapter of the Sierra Club, Friends of the Kaw, Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance, Lawrence Preservation Alliance, Friends of Douglas County, Wetlands Preservation Organization and the League of Women Voters.

Business development: Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Douglas County Development Inc., Lawrence Technology Assn., Lawrence Regional Technology Center, Lawrence Home Builders Assn., Wakarusa Valley Development Corp., Lawrence Board of Realtors and K-10 Assn.

Farm: Douglas County Farm Bureau, Douglas County Livestock Assn., Douglas County Pork Producers, Dairy Herd Improvement Assn., Lawrence Area Horticulture Producers, Kansas Rural Center and Farmers Market Board.