Tempers flared, debates became heated, votes were counted, elections have been held, changes were made and lawsuits issued – and after four years of protest and stalled action it’s posed to start over again.

Four affirmative votes later, the Ames City Council is taking the issue of the proposed new mall back to the drawing board.

In its Tuesday night meeting, the council voted 4-2 to request that the Planning and Zoning Commission cq draft new recommendations for the area, located northeast of 13th Street and Interstate 35 cq, currently zoned as regional/commercial. The commission will have no fewer than 30 days to consider the issue, including giving notice to landowners and holding public hearings.

Councilman Matthew Goodman said this was not to put pressure on the commission to draft new recommendations purely to please some members of the council, but rather to present alternatives for the area.

One of two opposing votes, Councilman Steve Goodhue, said this measure is a step backward for the city.

“There has been a lot that has gone into this decision,” he said. “This violates our commitment to long-term planning. We are going to see a protest on this. I think it is a mistake.”

According to a provision in the Iowa Code, 20 percent of the landowners in the area, or within 200 feet of its boundaries, have the option of filing a written protest with the city clerk. After this, the amendments or changes made by the council would not be effective until a new vote requiring a three-fourths majority passed them. This would require the Ames City Council to have 5 affirmative votes.

The other opposing vote, Councilman Riad Mahayni, said he thinks protests over this decision would definitely arise.

“I think you are dragging the city into lawsuits for years to come. I want to put this behind us,” he said. “If you keep changing the legal base, Ames will not be an attractive place to invest in and build in the future.”

Goodman said he thinks this is what the residents of Ames asked for when they voted in City Council elections in November.

“From what I am hearing, this issue is the biggest issue in the history of this community,” he said. “The citizenry came out and tried to move this body in a direction.”

Earlier in the night, the council approved an outdoor service privilege license for Cy’s Roost cq, 124 Welch Ave. In September, the bar faced controversy over the renewal of its liquor license because of repeated underage possession citations being issued on the premises. Ames Police Chief Loras Jaeger said since that time, the bar has been following recommendations by the council to train its employees on checking IDs. Despite these efforts, violations have still occurred.

“The Ames PD checks that bar frequently, and they try to comply,” he said.

Second readings of Campustown height restrictions and student affairs commission pass

The second reading of an ordinance to create the Campustown Service Center Zoning District unanimously passed by the council.

“I think there has been some confusion on what can and cannot be achieved this ordinance,” said Mayor Ann Campbell.

Ames City Planner Jeff Benson said the current regulations allow buildings of nine stories or 100 feet tall, whichever is less. He said any current building projects would fall under current regulations, even if height restrictions are lowered to 60 feet.

“Any action we take for the ordinance does not affect [current] projects at all,” he said.

Jenn Plagman-Galvin, director of greek affairs, said the proposed ordinance has been a “very heated and pressing topic for the greek community.”

Plagman-Galvin said new Campustown development concerns many greek residents.

“We as a community feel it is important developers understand our concerns,” she said. “It’s just really disconcerting for a lot of folks.”

While the second reading passed, Benson said the ordinance could still be reduced from 60 to 45 feet. Campbell suggested proposed amendments to the ordinance could be made prior to the third and final reading during the council’s next meeting Tuesday, March 7.

The second reading of the ordinance establishing the Student Affairs Commission unanimously passed. The commission will be established after passage of a third reading of the ordinance March 7.