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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
City Council Member Ben Shoen is supportive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s for safety or something like that, yes, restrictions make sense, but just to restrict competition? That seems like overreach on the part of government,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Council Member Bob Kimball didn\u2019t get back to us, but we\u2019re told he appears supportive, too.<\/p>\n
Council Member Cliff Olney is keeping an open mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019s been pretty effective because we\u2019ve gotten all the tournaments up there as it was designed to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Lisa Ruggiero is a no, saying it protects the city\u2019s investment in the park..<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s unclear how this council will decide on this potential request, it could be something that the next council has to take on in 2026.<\/p>\n
Candidates Anthony Velazquez and Doug Osborne want to learn more, but are open to lifting the restriction. Pete Monaco isn\u2019t a yes or no and says he doesn\u2019t have enough information. And Shane Garrabrant says lifting the restriction could be good, but the city should be compensated.<\/p>\n
Changing the deed restriction could be a long process involving approval from New York state since it\u2019s tied to the park golf course, which is now state park land. <\/p>\n
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