Panel Clears Way for Reagan Library

The Ventura County Planning Commission Thursday cleared the way for construction of the $45-million Ronald Reagan presidential library to begin as early as November on a 100-acre site near Simi Valley.

The commission unanimously approved the plans after holding a public hearing at which no opposition surfaced. The decision may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors within 10 days.

Representatives of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation said that if no appeal is filed, construction will begin by the end of November and the library will be completed by early 1992.

Earlier this month, local environmentalists and foundation officials resolved differences that threatened to delay construction of the library. At the environmentalists’ request, the foundation agreed to open the library to the general public at 10 a.m., instead of at 9 a.m., to avoid rush-hour traffic. Library officials also promised to protect three rare plant species.

In addition, the foundation agreed to consider using shuttle buses to transport visitors to the library and to create a five-member citizens’ advisory group, which officials said they will consult on a variety of issues.

The foundation originally had picked Stanford University for the site, but those plans were dropped after some faculty and nearby property owners objected.