The City Council passed the first reading of the Northeast Gateway Overlay District zoning ordinance Tuesday 5-1, despite arguments made by citizens.

The district would almost certainly contain a mall, along with other expected businesses.

Matthew Goodman was the only council member to oppose.

While the ordinance passed with little discussion from the council itself, some people at the meeting objected.

David Metzler, distinguished professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, spoke against the ordinance at the meeting and said he didn’t feel the council was listening to him or the other three citizens who spoke.

“It’s a mystery, somebody must be getting some money, I think, but I don’t know. Why do they want it? It may be because we have some bankers on there and they think that, well, they talk about economic development, but economic development is not necessarily good for Ames,” Metzler said.

He said he has spoken against the building of the new mall at two previous council meetings, but has not seen the council respond.

“I don’t understand why the City Council people go ahead and vote for it,” Metzler said.

“They allow us to talk, but they appear to ignore our opinions,” he said. “What I meant by that is, I’m a scientist, I want facts. They don’t agree on what the facts are.”

On Monday, Councilman Russ Cross said the mall issue has been reviewed so much already that the council probably has little need to debate the zoning ordinance.

The ordinance will need to pass two more readings by the City Council before it becomes law.