Jean Berensmeier Monday told other members of the San Geronimo Valley Planning Group that developers Sid Hendricks and Dennis Horne are willing to sell the 1,200-acre subdivision for $2.1 million.

All but 16 lots of the 117-lot subdivision would be sold. The 16 lots, which are in Bates Canyon, already have roads and utility hookups. If the subdivision were fully developed, it would stretch along the western hills of the Valley from Woodacre to Forest Knolls.

Berensmeier said the Marin Community Foundation is considering offering a challenge grant covering a third of the price. Berensmeier later told The Light there may be another source for an additional third of the cost although she declined to name it at this time.

That would leave roughly $700,000 to be raised from unknown sources, she noted.

As a first step, Berensmeier said, the county is planning to have the property appraised.

Although the county approved a masterplan for the subdivision in March, 1983, the 117-lot subdivision did not open until nearly three years ago. Since then only one of the lots made it into escrow, and that buyer eventually backed out.

The asking price for lots in the subdivision range from $195,000 to $245,000, and some Realtors have told The Light that's simply too high.

In other Planning Group news, members this week unanimously elected officers and steering committee members: Chairwoman Debra Dadd-Redalia of Forest Knolls; Vice-Chairperson Marshall Krause of San Geronimo; Secretary Debbie Hubsmith of Woodacre; Treasure Frank Binney of Woodacre; and village representatives Jean Berensmeier of Lagunitas, Bill Noble of San Geronimo, Anita Rui-Olds of Forest Knolls, Buck Parle of Woodacre, and Brian Staley, also from Woodacre.