A nonprofit Christian organization led by former Iowa gubernatorial candidate and conservative activist Bob Vander Plaats presented a plan Wednesday to rezone land between Ankeny and Bondurant to the Polk County Board of Supervisors.

But it is meeting resistance.

The Family Leader Foundation, based in Urbandale, is a nonprofit conservative Christian activism group that is seeking to move its headquarters to a site 1.5 miles east of Ankeny and about four miles west of Bondurant-Farrar High School.

Currently, the site is zoned for agricultural use. The Board of Supervisors would need to rezone the area for mixed use to allow the development.

An existing pumpkin patch, farm stand and event space used for weddings operate on the site under a conditional use permit. Under the plan proposed by The Family Leader, an office and event space would be built on the property, which would include a retention pond and walking trails.

More:After 17 seasons, families say farewell to Geisler Farms pumpkin patch in Bondurant

An amphitheater may also be built.

The Family Leader spokesperson Drew Zahn said a multipurpose building and “historic barn” would be updated for use. The office space would “have the look of a modern farmhouse,” and would include a silo and observation deck, Zahn said.

“We call it a prayer silo because that’s primarily what it would be used for,” Zahn said. “Opportunities to gather in prayer.”

Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader, ran for the Republican nomination for governor in 2002, 2006 and 2010. On Wednesday morning, Vander Plaats tweeted, "Looking forward to working with Polk County, the Geisler family and the neighbors to fulfill this inspiring vision showcasing the heart of #Iowa. Faith. Family. Freedom. Farm. Our goal is to honor God and bless people with this exciting development."

Current property owner Darrell Geisler operated a corn maze and pumpkin patch on his farm. But he decided to retire and was put in touch with The Family Leader through a pastor who held a wedding on the property.

“It was a labor of love,” Geisler said. “At that time we were so busy building and building and working that we never planned for retirement.”

There are doubts, however, that the project is a good fit for the area. The Polk County Zoning Commission denied the rezoning request Nov. 28 by voting down the proposal 5-1.

And Polk County Planner Brian McDonough said the area between Bondurant and Ankeny is in both cities’ long-term plans.

The Zoning Commission determined the project did not fit the county’s zoning goals and would promote urban sprawl. A memo from Polk County staff members sent to Board of Supervisors members recommended denying the request.

Additional utility, sanitary sewer and firefighting resources could be needed to serve the property if the project moves ahead, according to the memo. The road network in the area was not designed to accommodate the project, the memo said.

“The subject property is fundamentally incompatible with the surrounding land use pattern, including active farming operations, residences and some existing single-family development at low densities,” the memo said. “Approval does not support the public, health, safety and welfare of county residents in that it promotes commercial redevelopment incompatible with surrounding land uses and neighborhood character."

District 4 Supervisor Tom Hockensmith said the Board of Supervisors typically defers to the Polk County Zoning Commission.

“We’ve been reluctant in the past to overturn their decision,” Hockensmith said.

District 3 Supervisor Steve Van Ort said it is an “exciting” project but does not believe it is agricultural. More septic tanks would likely have to be put in to handle the project, Van Ort said

Architect Bill Ludwig rebutted the notion that this project will open rural areas of Polk County to additional development. Existing structures on the property have been there for years and will continue to be used, Ludwig said. The project will merely enhance the property, Ludwig said.

Farmland on the property will still be used as farmland, Geisler said. From the second floor of one building, 801 Grand in Des Moines will be visible, Ludwig said.

“It’s really a dramatic setting. We like the idea of the farm fields. We like the area staying as agricultural,” Ludwig said. "We’re really just taking an area that already exists and saying that for this particular purpose we’ll go to that zoning.”

A public hearing will be held on the project Jan. 10. A vote will be taken on the request in January.

Philip Joens covers retail, real estate and RAGBRAI for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184, pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bob Vander Plaats-led nonprofit proposes new headquarters near Ankeny