The Schlumberger Theater, shown when the oil research company was using it, may be preserved.
Citizens’ concerns and the selectmen’s still-forming plans for selling off more of the Schlumberger property — along with a possible identity of the previously nameless “art collector” who’s been negotiating for part of it —got some light and air at the last selectmen’s meeting.
Two planned sales the selectmen have in the works could bring in an estimated $4.75 million, and they are working on a lease arrangement for a third parcel with an appraised sales value of $2.5 million, the meeting’s long rambling discussion revealed.
Citizens expressed wide-ranging viewpoints, though last Wednesday’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting was not meant to be a public hearing.
“I feel like the whole point is preserving the piece of land,” Elizabeth DiSalvo said. “Keeping it from being over-developed.”
“I don’t feel satisfied we’re achieving the highest value,” said Andrew Behymer, a real estate professional.
“I think you’ve done a great job recouping the money” said Chuck Hancock. But with two sales in the works, he opposed more.
“At some time in the future, the town is going to need that land,” he said.
“What property remains for town use, and is it wet?” said Helen Dimos.
The selectmen said are nearing agreement with the still officially nameless art collector for a lease of 12 or 13 acres including many of the Schlumberger buildings, which would mostly be torn down — though four are specified to remain.
“Currently our attorneys are drafting a terms sheet we’ll use to draft a contract,” he said. “The contract will come to a vote of the Town of Ridgefield.
Discussion at the meeting suggested the town could probably recover more than two-thirds of what taxpayers have spent on Schlumberger. “We’re about $7 million into the property,” Selectman Andrew Bodner said.
Mr. Marconi estimated that the town could get about $3.5 million for 10 acres recently re-zoned for multifamily use that the town is currently negotiating with bidders on.
And a $1.25 million deal with developer Steve Zemo for five acres has already been approved by voters.
Those two deals — neither finalized yet, though the Zemo sale is nearly done — would net the town about $4.75 million.
No dollar figure was mentioned for the lease of the 12- to 13-acre parcel, where most of buildings are. But Mr. Marconi said the selectmen negotiated hard. “We drew our line,” he said.
No specifics were made public. “Once an agreement is in place, if would become public information,” Mr. Marconi said.
During the discussion Mr. Hancock, who opposed selling off too much of the site, referred to the art collector as “Mr. Diefenbach.” The News-Times of Danbury ran an article Sunday saying Mr. Hancock was referring to Eric Diefenbach, the president of the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art’s board of directors, who has a considerable art collection and a house in Ridgebury.
Mr. Diefenbach did not respond to inquiries from The Press, andMr. Marconi would not confirm or deny he is the art collector who’d been talking with the town.
The town has an $818,000 demolition bid for most of Schlumberger’s old buildings there. But the art collector wants to keep the office building designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson; the auditorium, which has been used for a few events since the town’s purchase; the former Schlumberger library; and the thick-walled “sky-dome building” which was use for atomic particle research.
The property is currently undergoing environmental clean-up by a firm contracted to Schlumberger, under oversight by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
The selectmen are negotiating with the art collector for a lease because state law concerning properties that have environmental problems give the seller of a site primary responsibility for the clean-up.
Currently, that’s Schlumberger. But if the town re-sells an area with environmental concerns, before the clean-up work is done and approved by the state, the town becomes responsible.
The contamination was largely “fuel oil,” Mr. Marconi said.
Mr. Marconi said the 12-or-13 acre campus area had been appraised at about $2.5 million. “The board felt it was worth a lot more than that,” he added.
But he said that on the five-acre parcel being sold to Mr. Zemo for a hotel, and the 10 acres being marketed for residential development, the selectmen had gotten evaluations from Assessor Al Garzi.
Citizens worried that the deed restrictions the selectmen are using to limit future development of the land might not stand up in court.
The board didn’t discuss legalities in depth, but Selectwoman Barbara Manners said the board shared the concern. “There are controls on the property that go into the future, and that’s very important to some of us,” she said.
There was also talk about how contracts go to voters.
“If you insist on going forward with this, I’d ask that you put on the referendum an option to keep it,” Mr. Hancock said.
The format of a vote on it would be up to the Board of Selectman. Mr. Marconi said one idea was for voters to be given a few options on a ballot, including ‘Yes, support the proposed sale’ and ‘No, keep the property.’
“Or, we do a simple ‘yes-or-no,’ ” Mr. Marconi said.
“I think you do a simple ‘yes-or-no,’ ” Selectwoman Barbara Manners added.
Some citizens disagreed.
“I’m so against a ‘yes-or-no’ vote,” Ms. DiSalvo said, “90% of the town will be clueless when they vote.”
Mr. Marconi did say the board would consider a machine vote referendum at Yanity Gym, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., as opposed to a town meeting vote — which had proved controversial last time.
“Since we’re also working on another possible sale,” he added, “it might be a good idea to put both of them on there.” Mr. Marconi said.
The other sale concerns the 10 acres off Sunset Lane, which were rezoned over the summer for multifamily use.
Bids were opened in early December and Toll Brothers, a nationwide housing construction company, was the high bidder — proposing to pay $4 million and build 32 to 36 condominiums.
The selectmen said they are negotiating with the firm — apparently willing to accept a little less money if development is reduced some so the board is comfortable it’ll fit the neighborhood.
“We reserve the right to negotiate with the high bidder — with all bidders,” Mr. Marconi said.
Robert Jewell, an attorney who represents one of the bidders, said negotiations should include more parties.
“It seems fair. You’re allowing one bidder to modify that bid. You should allow others,” he said.
“Some of the bids took into consideration the reasonableness of the request, as P&Z might look at it,” he added.
The five bids the town received in early December ranged from $4 million to $1.75 million, with development proposals that ranged from 78 multifamily units to 17 single family homes.
Mr. Jewell’s clients, Ridgefield Investment LLC, had bid $2.7 million, planning 18 single-family houses.
Citizens asked how much land the town would have left.
“Eighteen acres remain.” Mr. Marconi said.
“Wet acres,” Ms. Dimos interjected.
Mr. Marconi said an area near the Goodwill trailer off Old Quarry Road had potential for future town use.
“Are there steep slopes? Yes. Is it an easy piece of property? No,” he said. “Can it be built on? It can be.”
Andy Behymer thought the town might get more money.
“The properties have not professionally been exposed to the marketplace,” he said
“You put a bid package out in mid-August, you give bidders four to six weeks,” he said. “Would you sell your house like that?”