The new mall proposed for the intersection of Interstate 35 and 13th Street has been pulled off of the Ames City Council’s agenda for Tuesday night by developer James “Bucky” Wolford.

Bill Bartine, attorney representing Wolford Development, mailed Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco and City Council members a letter Friday stating Wolford would withdraw the current rezoning application and submit a new one. The new application would combine the north and south parcels of land adjacent to the proposed development area, overriding a formal protest submitted Sept. 13 by Gilbert resident Gerald Johnson. Johnson claimed in the protest he owned more than 20 percent of the land adjoining the north parcel’s boundaries, which resulted in a 5 to 1 vote by the council being necessary to pass the rezoning ordinance.

“I’d rather he gave up, but clearly he doesn’t want to give up,” Johnson said. “I don’t think a mall makes a good neighbor.”

Wolford’s original rezoning application, filed Oct. 26, 2004, requested the entire area, both north and south, be rezoned as one parcel.

“Only during extended negotiations with the city this summer concerning the rezoning agreement did the concept emerge that the zoning ordinance should be broken into a north component and a south component, thus allowing the delayed publications of the rezoning ordinances,” the letter stated. “The plan to have two zoning ordinances was intended to address the city’s concerns about the different development schedules for the proposed lifestyle center north of 13th Street and the proposed power center south of 13th Street.”

Matt Flynn, director of planning, housing and economic development for Ames, said now the rezoning application will go through the steps from the beginning, including going before the planning and zoning commission again, Flynn said.

“He wants to make sure he does everything he can to ensure that he’s not taking any shortcuts in terms of procedure,” Flynn said. “So one alternative would be to go ahead and move forward with both developments and him being obligated on both developments.”

Flynn said the proposal of two parcels was decided on because of commitment issues.

“Wolford’s full intention was to move forward with the north side and the additional property to the south would be a power center with freestanding stores or a smaller strip mall, but he wasn’t 100 percent sure he wanted to do the south development and he wanted a possibility to opt out,” he said.

Councilman Steve Goodhue said it wouldn’t change his viewpoint because he has always viewed it as one project.

Councilman Matthew Goodman said, “It won’t change my viewpoint because my philosophy has to do with the location versus the city.”