Ludwig Appears Favorable : Westlake Pool Plan Nears Fast Lane as Hearing Approaches

A Westlake Village group claims to be a step closer to realizing its dream of having a swimming pool complex built in the Conejo Valley.

The Olympic Swim Complex Feasibility Committee’s first fund-raiser netted $5,000 on Sunday. A spokesman said the money will be used to alert potential corporate sponsors and the public of a Westlake Village City Council hearing March 27 on the development of the Westlake Golf Course, which is owned by New York-based billionaire businessman Daniel K. Ludwig.

Although the hearing has been called to discuss rezoning that would allow Ludwig to build office buildings on the golf course, pool supporters say the forum will give Westlake residents a chance to voice their views on the swimming complex as well.

Homeowners have already protested the business park plan.

Allen F. Camp, Ludwig’s attorney, indicated that Ludwig would not look unfavorably on a proposal that would give his company land for commercial development and still leave enough room for the proposed pool.

If the golf course development is not approved by the council, however, Camp said Ludwig will definitely not help construct a pool complex.

“It would seem clear to me,” Camp said, “and should be clear to the community, that in the event the Ludwig organization was not allowed to proceed with its requested development or some hybrid thereof--all of which is subject to city of Westlake Village approval--there will be no participation by my client in a pool or any other community amenity in the foreseeable future.”

Ludwig has proposed tearing up the current 18-hole golf course, replacing it with a nine-hole setup and using much of the remaining land to construct the offices.

Proponents of the swim complex believe their project could be the agent that brings the community and the developer to a compromise on the issue.

“I’m proposing that the people of Westlake get enthused and look at this pool,” said Norm Reddick, a Westlake Village dentist who is leading advocate for the pool. “Maybe we’ll say, ‘We’ll change the zoning if you build (a pool) for us.’ And he might just say, ‘This fits into my plans, and I’ll do it.’ ”

Reddick said he was pleased with Sunday’s fund-raiser, which attracted 376 persons who paid up to $25 a ticket to meet Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis and 18 other Olympic athletes at the Westlake Plaza Hotel.