The Island

As promised, the City Council is slated to meet in closed session tonight to talk about a potential land swap with local developer Ron Cowan: Cowan’s last remaining plot of land in the Harbor Bay Business Park for the Mif Albright golf course.

I say “as promised” because the council was slated to discuss a potential swap of the 12-acre parcels back in February but the discussion was put off to a later date because two council members, Lena Tam and Marie Gilmore, were out sick.

The council has since opted to reopen the course for six months at the request of duffers who wanted to keep the nine-hole course for kids and seniors they say want to play golf but can’t really go a full 18 holes.

Cowan couldn’t be reached for comment Monday, but he has said he doesn’t want to make the trade. He hopes to build 104 homes on his land, at 1855 North Loop Road. But businesses there have opposed the plan because they fear new residents could impact their ability to operate. The Planning Board turned down Cowan’s request to rezone the land from business to residential use this past May.

Barbara Price, who has been representing the businesses, said they haven’t been involved in any recent efforts to make a swap happen. Mayor Beverly Johnson, who said the swap ought to be considered, couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

As I always say … more to come.