Another milestone for the proposed mall has been passed after the Ames Planning and Zoning Commission approved the rezoning of almost 250 acres of land. The land, located at the intersection of 13th Street and Interstate 35, is the likely site of the mall proposed by Tennessee developer James “Bucky” Wolford.

Two members of the commission voted to oppose the rezoning — Darryl Knight and Joseph Aronson — while Commission Chairwoman Victoria Feilmeyer said she disagreed with the proposal but voted to approve it.

“I think there’s not much of a decision here, quite frankly. The Council has decided that they believe this should be a regional commercial area, and as such, I believe the rezoning agreement is appropriate,” she said.

“Fundamentally, I disagree with this, but the Council has decided otherwise.”

Feilmeyer declined to comment for further clarification of her stance.

The purpose of the Commission is to make recommendations to the Ames City Council prior to the Council making a decision, according to the city of Ames Web site.

Its recommendations are to be separate from what the Council thinks, so it can make an informed decision.

If Feilmeyer had voted to oppose the rezoning, creating a tie, the issue would still go before City Council but without a recommendation.

The Council will consider rezoning the land and the rezoning agreement during its Sept. 13 meeting.

Bill Bartine, attorney representing Wolford, presented a conceptual plan of what the project could look like, but stressed the map was just a starting point and would change before the master plan is submitted.

“This is just an idea to represent what we are thinking for Council to see if the proposed plan fits,” he said.

“The master plan will provide more detail — this was just prepared to put ideas on the table.”

Several concerned citizens stood up with reasons why the mall should not move forward.

Ames resident Catherine Scott cited several reasons the mall should not be built, including its location on the edge of the city, the increased costs to the city and the impacts on Ketelsen Marsh.

“We need to separate needs from wants. The grass is always greener on the other side. We satisfy basic needs here, and now is just not the time for this,” Marsh said. “If, in the body, there was such a fast, uncontrollable growth, like this project appears to me, we would call it cancer.”

Ames resident Gerald Johnson owns land to the north of the proposed site and is concerned with several issues, including the costs of paving a gravel road next to his property and the impact from the marsh.

“In the summer, there are mosquitoes and when I work around them I have to cover myself in DEET or I walk away with welts. How many people will go there if they’re going to come home with welts?” Johnson said.