Local News in Brief : Westlake Village Approves North Ranch Road Connector

Ahalf-mile extension to a street that will link Westlake Village with Thousand Oaks’ fast-growing North Ranch area has been approved in a move to end a three-way disagreement among those cities and neighboring Agoura Hills.

The Westlake Village City council voted, 3 to 1, Wednesday night to allow the connection of Lindero Canyon Road to the North Ranch neighborhood after receiving a promise that the ranch’s primary developer will help finance a new Agoura Hills freeway interchange.

Officials of the Prudential Insurance Co., developer of the exclusive Thousand Oaks neighborhood, said the interchange, at Reyes Adobe Road, will divert some North Ranch traffic away from Westlake Village.

Fears of traffic congestion from Thousand Oaks motorists had caused Westlake Village officials to balk last month at Prudential’s road-completion plans.

Westlake Village City Manager James Emmons said Agoura Hills will get $250,000 from Prudential for the interchange project, which is expected to cost from $2.5 million to $5 million. Complete funding for the project has not been arranged.

One more road improvement will be necessary for the interchange to receive North Ranch traffic. Agoura Hills’ officials still must agree to complete an unfinished part of Reyes Adobe Road, extending it to Lindero Canyon Road, within the next 18 months.

Prudential can begin work on the $500,000 Lindero Canyon Road extension immediately, Emmons said.