A new mall in Ames is one step closer to being approved, but controversy over the decision remains.

This week, Tennessee developer James “Bucky” Wolford, of Wolford Development Inc., along with HWS Consulting Group Inc., submitted a development plan for a new mall to the Ames Planning and Housing department.

The plan includes details on the square footage of the site and a traffic survey on what the city and the Department of Transportation will need to do to make the mall more accessible to residents of Ames.

In order for the application to go through, changes must be made to the city’s Land Use Policy Plan. The land at the current site is undeveloped and being used for agriculture, which is in contrast to what is called for by the City of Ames Land Use Policy Plan, according to the Wolford’s Strategic Edge Report.

The current plan allows for the mall to be developed at Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 30. Last week, Wolford requested the site be changed to Interstate 35 and 13th Street.

The economic benefits from a regional shopping center have raised questions in the community.

“I have mixed emotions about this,” said Kenneth Stone, professor of economics and agriculture. “Traditionally, malls are a thing of the past — only two or three were built in the United States last year and three the year before that.”

Stone said he thinks if the city allows the change in the Land Use Policy Plan, the plan for the mall will go through.

In the application, there is no mention of the specific stores in the new mall, but proposed square footage and a traffic evaluation are included.

“Wolford’s assistant has called me to tell me Dillard’s has said they want to be in Ames, but there isn’t any confirmation on that,” Stone said.

Stone said area businesses would be negatively affected by the new mall.

“North Grand Mall would be hurt, especially the department stores,” he said.

“Also, a lot of people say the downtown stores on Main Street wouldn’t be hurt, but they would be.”

Any store offering the same services as one of the new stores at the mall, such as jewelry or clothing stores, would be negatively affected, Stone said.

Mayor Ted Tedesco said he has been wanting a regional shopping area in Ames for years and the city’s Land Use Policy Plan has provided that area.

The plan was approved six years ago by the City Council, and Wolford Development is the first developer to show an interest in the area, he said.

Tedesco said he couldn’t comment on the development plan from Wolford because he hadn’t seen the plan yet.

“The plan is being reviewed by the housing and planning department right now,” Tedesco said.

“They will go through the plan and see if there are any questions or problems with the city’s land use policy and refer back to the developer. After all of the questions and problems are answered, it will go to the Planning and Zoning department for approval and then onto City Council.”

In the Strategic Edge Report, Wolford lists the three areas in Ames that would be affected by the new mall. They include North Grand Mall, South Duff Avenue, and East Lincoln Way and Grand Avenue.

Kurt Carlson, general manager of the North Grand Mall, said he has seen the application and feels Wolford’s plans include North Grand Mall going out of business.

“We won’t be going anywhere,” Carlson said.

“We’ve been in Ames for thirty years and plan on going on for another thirty years.”

North Grand Mall has been in negotiations with their department stores for months about the idea of expanding, and the mall has been working behind the scenes to make sure North Grand Mall is better for its market, Carlson said.

The mall has been talking to the city for a number of years now about growing responsibly, Carlson said. “If this new mall is passed, we wouldn’t be the only ones hurt.”