By Kate Bramson
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The House Finance Committee will reconvene at noon Thursday to consider additional changes on a bill affecting development of prime real estate in Providence available from the relocation of Route 195.

A vote could take place at that time, but it's not certain when the committee might vote, Chairman Helio M. Melo said when the hearing concluded around 10:30 p.m. Additional changes were expected to be made overnight.

The idea for a powerful commission to control development of the land has survived in negotiations between the governor's office, the City of Providence and legislative leaders.

The changes so far to the Senate bill include:

* Language that no casino could be built on the former Route 195 land;

* The Speaker of the House could recommend three names to the governor for one of the seven members of the commission; the mayor of Providence would continue to recommend three; the governor would appoint all seven;

* Approval by the Providence City Council would be needed before the commission's powers could expand to include abutting property if the owners of such land seek to buy former highway land and build on it and the abutting property;

* Johnson & Wales University would continue to be allowed to buy two irregularly shaped parcels directly from the state and not have that land fall under the commission's authority. The university would go through the city's Planning and Zoning boards and not the commission because they're ready to begin developing the land and the commission would take time to set up, Director of Administration Richard Licht told the committee as he briefed them about the changes that he said have been made in response to concerns about the Senate bill.

* Language to avoid "land banking," a term used when a developer buys land and then doesn't develop it, while waiting for the economy to improve.