It's an interesting theory: adding a gym to a proposed 361,000-square-foot office project might help relieve traffic pressure during peak travel hours.

It's an untested theory, but one the Westlake Village City Council is interested in learning more about as a developer plans to build the office complex on a site where voters vetoed a Lowe's home improvement store.

"It's conjecture at this point, so we are really trying to see if that benefit is there," the council was told Wednesday night by Stuart Morkun, director of real estate for Opus West Corp.'s Los Angeles office.

The 45,000-square-foot gym isn't formally a part of the development that will sit on 22 acres on Russell Ranch Road. When a traffic study is prepared for the project, it will look at how having the gym there might bring office workers in before and after the morning and afternoon rush hours.

Morkun and his team went before the council for what's known as a concept review. The developer lays out the plan, and council members share their thoughts and make suggestions for improvement. No vote on the project is taken.

"The real debate is on the added density," said Councilman Mark Rutherford. "My gut is telling me this idea may work."

When the project's required environmental impact report is drafted it, too, will look at adding a gym to the project.

The project currently calls for two, four-story, 180,500-square-foot buildings, which will be shaped like wide V's with a tree-lined promenade between them.

Morkun said Opus is going for a campus feel, which is something community members called for during a public input meeting in February.

There will be retail space in both buildings, which might offer a dry cleaner, a deli and other services.

Two 7,500-square-foot, stand-alone restaurants are also planned for the project. Morkun said Opus hopes to attract steakhouses or similar restaurants.

Community members and the developer want to see the office development attract top-tier corporate tenants. Morkun said that goal was doable.

"The Conejo Valley has completely grown up as a business center," he said.

"I think what we've really tried to address here is the quality issue."

Council members want to see high-quality architecture for the buildings and echoed community calls to make the office development a community center, something where a gym might work well, or even an art museum.

"My concern has been two-fold: traffic and how to make it a community center," Councilwoman Philippa Klessig said.

"I'm encouraged by the gym. What else can you do to draw people in? We don't have a good full-service art museum."