Our History from the Beginning
The Friends of the Valley by Wendi Kallins In February 1980, developers Sid Hendricks and Dennis Horne proposed a development of 149 exclusive and gated homes on one of the largest undeveloped tract of land in Marin County. This 1600 acre tract comprised the entire south ridge of the San Geronimo Valley. At an emotion- ally charged Planning Group meeting attended by about 300 people, the public reaction to the developers’ proposal clearly demonstrated that the community was going to have to actively participate in the planning process to pre- serve the basic character and planning objective as set forth in the San Geronimo Valley Community Plan adopted in 1978. Friends of the Valley, a volunteer group dedicated to preserving the beauty and character of San Geronimo Valley, volunteered to create an alternative plan to demon- strate that a viable and sensitive project could emerge from the community’s guidelines. Over almost two years, more than 20 volunteers gave 5-10 hours per week to do research and painstakingly analyze the proposal. Under the skilled guidance of architects, contractors, and planning profes- sionals, they became experts on such aspects of the devel- opment as: • The geology of the site • Open space preservation • Comprehensive analysis of the access roads • Zoning changes • The biotic impact on plant and animal life and watercourses • Development of affordable housing Many long intensive decision-making workshops were held in an effort to reach a consensus on the proper land
use of this delicate piece of property. The final product was an alternative plan that moved the houses off the ridge and placed them as logical extensions of the existing villages. It was more consistent with the wishes of the Valley residents, and more likely to meet county housing policy goals with respect to diversity. Sadly, in the end, the Board of Supervisors dismissed these efforts and granted permission for the development to go forward reaching all the way up to the ridgelines. But providence and the economy were on our side. Few lots sold and the developers ultimately were forced to sell the land. The Open Space District purchased the bulk of the property, now known as the Giacomini Open Space. In an ironic twist, the developers were left with a few parcels just above the villages, much like the proposal that was put for- ward by Friends of the Valley. Ultimately only a few houses were ever built, and the ridges and open space have now been preserved in perpetuity.
Friends of the Valley, 1982 l-r Marshall Johnson, Stephanie Furniss, Phil Sotter, Max Kepcke, Rose Rutman, Wendi Kallins, Cathy Fahy, Jean Kinsey, Steve Kinsey, and Lissa Englert (Photo courtesy of Wendi Kallins)
Postcard (From the Collection of Newall Snyder)
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50 th Anniversary
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