WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – It appears that 4 out of 5 Watertown City Council members would have to vote yes to lift a deed restriction so Ives Hill Country Club can become an 18-hole golf course again.
The club can only run as 9-holes. A deed restriction was put on the property as part of the 2023 deal to limit the competition after Watertown bought the golf club in Thompson Park for $3.4 million.
But Ives Hill owner Jake Johnson is thinking about running an 18-hole course and wants council to consider doing away with the deed restriction.
City Council Member Ben Shoen is supportive.
“If it’s for safety or something like that, yes, restrictions make sense, but just to restrict competition? That seems like overreach on the part of government,” he said.
Council Member Bob Kimball didn’t get back to us, but we’re told he appears supportive, too.
Council Member Cliff Olney is keeping an open mind.
“I’m open to a conversation because we always do that and we want to hear what people have to say. The deed restriction was a no-compete clause, and it’s been pretty effective because we’ve gotten all the tournaments up there as it was designed to do,” he said.
Lisa Ruggiero is a no, saying it protects the city’s investment in the park..
Mayor Sarah Pierce wants more information and to hear from the public and says if the deed is lifted, the city should be compensated, since part of the $3.4 million taxpayer-funded deal paid developer PJ Simao, then-owner of Ives, to put the restriction on Ives.
While it’s unclear how this council will decide on this potential request, it could be something that the next council has to take on in 2026.
Candidates Anthony Velazquez and Doug Osborne want to learn more, but are open to lifting the restriction. Pete Monaco isn’t a yes or no and says he doesn’t have enough information. And Shane Garrabrant says lifting the restriction could be good, but the city should be compensated.
Changing the deed restriction could be a long process involving approval from New York state since it’s tied to the park golf course, which is now state park land.
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