A new mall in Ames is one step closer to reality after the Ames City Council agreed in a 5-1 vote Tuesday to send the developer’s land annexation proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commission will hold a public hearing April 7. James “Bucky” Wolford, president and CEO of Tennessee-based Wolford Development, Inc., said he will be present for the hearing.

The council will make the final annexation decision, probably at its May 4 meeting, Mayor Ted Tedesco said.

The request is for voluntary annexation from the three current landowners to bring the land into city limits. This is necessary for the council to enact zoning regulations for the potential new mall, said Joe Pietruszynski, city planner.

When the annexation process is complete, Wolford will begin proposals for re-zoning.

“The final decision [for the mall] will come at the re-zoning request,” Tedesco said.

Tedesco said he is in favor of the new mall.

“[For students], it provides opportunities for employment, entertainment and shopping,” he said.

Wolford chose the land near the interchange of 13th Street and Interstate 35 because of its visibility and easy access at the interchange.

“13th Street goes all the way to the north side of campus,” Wolford said, “so it’s only about a seven-minute drive for students.”

Wolford, who has been in the development business for nearly 30 years, said he pursued a new mall after a department store representative in Ames requested he look into expansion. He added that he thinks North Grand Mall would be affected by his construction.

“We will impact the old mall,” Wolford said. “The problem is, it’s landlocked.”

Wolford said he does not expect the new mall to impact businesses on Main Street.

“The downtown area is a niche-type area,” Wolford said. “I don’t think we’ll impact retail stores downtown at all because they have specialized stores.”

A January telephone poll conducted by radio station KASI, including both residents and students, indicated 63 percent of the Ames community was in favor of a new mall, while 37 percent opposed it, said Justin Moore, a KASI spokesman.

“Probably the group having the most difficult time with it is the seniors, which is my group, because it’s change,” Tedesco said. “You have to learn that you’ll never please all the people all the time.”

If the annexation and re-zoning are passed, a steering committee will be developed to establish standards of quality. ISU students will be represented on this committee, Pietruszynski said.

Students and community members may share ideas at any public hearings, he said.