There would seem to be many advantages to the city and county having a direct hand in planning the future of the decommissioned Farmland fertilizer plant on the east side of Lawrence.

If, as County Commissioner Charles Jones has indicated, the property is not an environmental “time bomb,” it would be a prime location for a number of uses. The city and county, perhaps in partnership with a private party, could make sure the 467-acre site is developed in a way that benefits the community and provides an attractive entry into the city.

The county already was considering purchasing a parcel of Farmland buffer land adjacent to the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds to provide space for future expansion. After further investigation, county and city officials now are looking more seriously at the entire Farmland site. The plant has been closed for two years, but there has been little interest from anyone seeking to buy the property and either reopen the plant or convert it to another use.

It certainly is in the best interests of the city and county to get that property into a more productive state so it can benefit local tax coffers. The size of the parcel would allow for a number of single uses or a creative mix of several uses.

The work of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Eco2 group is getting attention in connection with the land. Eco2 was formed with the dual goal of providing open space for the community as well as new property that could be used for industrial development. The group’s planning more or less faltered when its planned funding mechanism — a countywide sales tax — failed to gain favor.

But the discussions of the Eco2 group may have some applications to the Farmland property. Could the county buy the property and sell parcels to expand the East Hills Business Park while preserving open space for the fairgrounds and other uses? Could some attractive residential housing developments be part of the mix? Could some sort of public-private partnership allow the development of residential and industrial land to help finance the preservation of open space — a high priority for Lawrence’s future?

Maybe local officials should look to Wyandotte County, which was able to bring a broad coalition of public and private interests together to realize a bold vision for development near the Kansas Speedway. Perhaps Lawrence and Douglas County can show the same kind of creativity on a smaller scale with the Farmland property.

The former fertilizer plant obviously is a tricky puzzle and could pose large financial risks for local taxpayers if it isn’t handled properly. It also seems to be a wonderful opportunity for public and private interests to get creative and realize a vision for that property that would be something other cities could emulate. Hopefully, community leaders will rise to the challenge.