Living History Farms has closed the sale of about 40 acres of land to a developer planning to build a commercial and retail center.

S&S Heritage Park LLC paid nearly $7.2 million for the property, according to Polk County records. The site is located northwest of the intersection of Interstate 35/80 and Hickman Road in Urbandale.

A Living History Farms spokesman has said that proceeds from the sale will be used to establish a permanent operating endowment.

The Urbandale City Council has approved rezoning the parcel to allow construction of big-box retail outlets and other commercial uses. The rezoning came with the stipulation that the developer pay for the construction of right-hand-turn lanes on Hickman Road.

Under the zoning change, permitted uses on the land include hotels, grocery stores, bakeries, auto dealerships and repair shops, no more than two fast-food restaurants, and other businesses, including big-box stores, which are described as retail establishments of at least 60,000 square feet.

During the rezoning process, architect William Ludwig said developer Robin Seiser planned a $30 million to $40 million project for the site and that it was unlikely that the development would include a big-box store.

Seiser used the property as security on a $7.8 million loan from Citizens Bank & Trust Co. of Gladstone, Mo.

The sale was delayed to give archeologists time to remove remnants of a homestead believed to have been occupied by a son of Martin Flynn, the 19th-century railroad man, surveyor and farmer who originally owned the land where the interpretive farm museum is located.

More than 3,000 artifacts were recovered; some will be displayed at Living History Farms, and others will be placed in storage or exhibited at the State Historical Museum.