Cooperative effort

To the editor:

In a recent column in the Lawrence Journal-World, George Gurley suggests that promoters of growth and preservation learn to work together. In 2003, Douglas County and the city of Lawrence recognized the value of that cooperation by establishing the ECO2 Commission. They asked ECO2 to develop a plan to achieve the twin goals of economic development and open-space preservation.

Working with environmental groups and the business community, the ECO2 Commission has written a draft plan aimed at reaching both goals. That plan will be presented to the City Commission on May 1 and the County Commission on May 2. Take a look at the information about ECO2 (www.douglas-county.com/administration/eco2commission.asp) and pass along your thoughts to the city, county or ECO2 commissioners.

ECO2 is a unique attempt, as Mr. Gurley recommends, to approach growth and preservation in the “spirit of cooperation and compromise.”

Rex Buchanan, member,

ECO2 Commission, Lawrence