Scores of Ames residents are expected to voice their opinions Tuesday before the Ames City Council considers a change to its Land Use Policy. A proposed change could lead to the construction of a new “regional mall” in east Ames.

The council will decide whether to change the location of the Regional Retail Commercial area on the city’s Land Use Policy Plan map, the first of many steps that could lead to a new mall in east Ames.

Before making a decision, the council will listen to citizens offer opinions for, against and ambivalent toward a new mall in public forum, which could add several hours to the meeting.

“I expect a whole bunch of folks to attend, and speak both for and against the proposed mall,” said councilman Russ Cross.

As many as 100 people could come to speak before the council, Cross said. Each speaker will be given three minutes to speak.

Tuesday’s resolution, if passed, is still far removed from actually allowing a new mall to be built, Cross said. If it is not approved, the mall proposal from Wolford Development will have little chance to advance, he said.

In the current Land Use map, the Regional Retail Commercial site is located at the interchange of Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 30. The council will decide whether or not to move the site north, to the interchange of I-35 and 13th Street, where Wolford said he wants to build. “Regional Retail Commercial” is the designation for large-scale retail outlets such as an enclosed mall or large strip mall.

At the Jan. 13 council meeting, city staff recommended the change, saying the proposed site was superior in 16 of 19 criteria, including Land Use compatibility, police and fire protection and utilities.

Cross said he favored the change based on the staff recommendations, but still recognizes the importance of public input.

“I’m inclined to be supportive, but it is valuable to hear opinions. I’m not blind in my decision,” he said.

Four votes will be needed to pass the resolution — a 3-3 vote will kill the proposal.

If the resolution passes, there are still hurdles for the city and Wolford Development to clear before a new mall could be built. The first step would be for the city to annex the land at I-35 and 13th Street.

The land would then have to be zoned Regional Retail Commercial. Throughout the process, the council could set limitations or guidelines for development, Cross said.

“The law allows for contract zoning in rezoned areas,” he said. “We can set stipulations tied to rezoning.”

Stipulations could include regulations on the project’s amount of green space, the appearance of buildings, the proximity to streets or anything else the council finds appropriate, Cross said. If Wolford believes the guidelines are too strict, he could abandon the project.

Discussion on the new mall issue is important, even at this early stage, said Jim Popken, chairman of the Ames Smart Growth Committee.

“The best time to address an issue is as early as possible,” Popken said. “We’re pressing to have our questions answered now, not a year from now on the third reading of the rezoning application.”

Smart Growth, which has led opposition of the new mall for the past several months, will repeat its concerns at the meeting, including commuter costs associated with a new mall in east Ames and the effects a mall could have on other retail areas, Popken said.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at Ames City Hall, 515 Clark Ave.