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

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