City Council voted 6-1 Monday to approve a rezoning and concept plan so Glimcher Development Corp. of Columbus can build the shopping center. Plans include several major department stores, a movie theater, restaurants, two hotels and office space.

Glimcher now has to work out a development agreement with City Council, finalizing items such as a road improvement schedule and landscaping maintenance responsibilities. The planning commission also must approve the final site plan.

"It will dramatically change that area," city engineer Richard Fair said of the 209-acre site. "But we believe it's going to transform it in a positive way."

Residents have voiced concerns about the massive development, mainly about how Kings Mills Road and the surrounding streets would handle additional cars and trucks.

"The traffic in the summer with Kings Island and The Beach is bad enough," said Robin Sempsrott, a married mother of three who lives a couple miles from the site. "It's just going to get worse - there's no ifs, ands or buts about that. But we knew it was pretty much inevitable."

Fair estimates Glimcher would be investing upwards of $5 million to $6 million toward roadway and intersection improvements, though those details will be hammered out in the development agreement.

Some questions have been raised about how the City Park and Park Center would affect efforts to revitalize Mason's downtown, an area of , niche stores only a few miles down Kings Mills Road.

"It's an unknown factor here as to how the development will affect downtown," Councilwoman Charlene Pelfrey said. "I think everyone has somewhat of an apprehension about what such a large development would do. But I personally think they should mix OK."

Mayor Peter Beck was the lone "no" vote Monday night, consistent with his earlier vote on planning commission. Council's approval came with several conditions.

The first phase is projected to be completed by 2006.

The office space and hotel portions should be done by 2016.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com