Dracut land deal back on

By Dennis Shaughnessey, Lowell Sun

DRACUT — The on-again, off-again land deal that was pronounced dead two weeks ago has been given new life.

Selectmen are trying to revive the deal between the town and landowner Alan Kazanjian for a 14-acre parcel to be used for recreational fields. Chairman John Zimini said he spoke recently with Kazanjian, a Lowell city councilor, about revisiting the issue.

“I asked him if he was open to a fair and full review, and he answered yes,” Zimini said.

Kazanjian pulled the deal off the table after controversy brewed over the price of the land.

“I’d like to reopen the discussion,” Zimini said at a recent meeting of the Board of Selectmen. “Let’s put the past in the past. This is a great opportunity, and we cannot let it go by.”

In November, Town Meeting approved spending $1.34 million from the Community Preservation fund to buy the land. Kazanjian was asking for $1.2 million. The remaining $340,000 would pay for bonding and for engineering and design costs.

The land has been appraised twice, the first time for $1 million and later for $1.02 million. Critics, including Selectman James O’Loughlin, argued that the proposal would not pass legal muster.Kazanjian bought the property in 1998 for $575,000. He has been paying taxes and interest on the property for 10 years. He incurred engineering costs when four buildings on the land were demolished. He estimates that he has spent as much as $400,000 since he bought it.

“I basically told (Zimini) what I’ve been saying all along — I’m selling it to the town for less than I have been offered,” said Kazanjian, as well-known Lowell businessman. “I’m still willing to sit down at the table and see if we can work out.”

If a deal cannot be struck, Kazanjian plans to build an over-55 development, consisting of 29 condominium units.

Selectman Robert Cox said this week that the Community Preservation Committee has approved funding for a new appraisal that would include an adjacent 26,000-square-foot parcel, also owned by Kazanjian. Cox said the new appraisal would put the value of the land above the asking price.

“The public is saying that we’re trying to spend more than we need to,” Cox said. “We’re not trying to force this down anyone’s throats, but it’s in everybody’s best interest if we can make it work.”

Selectman George Malliaros called for a televised meeting between the selectmen, Kazanjian, the Community Preservation Committee, the Capital Planning Committee and the Finance Committee. His motion passed on a 4-to-1 vote, with O’Loughlin dissenting.

The Capital Planning Committee is scheduled to meet with the Community Preservation Committee on Monday at 6 p.m., at Harmony Hall.

“Why don’t we just join them on Monday night?” O’Loughlin said. “If this is already in the works, why are we duplicating our efforts?”

Zimini said he did not want to take the chance that Kazanjian would be unable to attend or that the meeting would not be televised. He was also not sure if his schedule would allow him to attend on Monday night.

“Feel free to go to that meeting on Monday night, but I still feel the need for a separate meeting when all the entities are here and the public can see the discussion,” Zimini said. “It’s an important enough issue for us to have a make time for a second meeting.”