Attend Meetings

Tea & Letter Writing with Stop Zena Development

Thursday February 5th from 4PM to 7PM at the Woodstock Land Conservancy Office: 74 Mill Hill Road

We urgently need letters opposing Zena Development before February 10th! Stop in at the WLC Offices on February 5th between 4PM to 7PM for help writing your letter. Emailing your letter is preferred, as this will allow you to send your letter to officials in both Ulster and Woodstock. If you can, please bring your laptop or tablet. We will also have paper, envelopes and stamps for folks who prefer to send letters the old-fashioned way!

Zena Development may appear before the Town of Ulster for an important decision on February 10th. Please stay tuned for updates! Stay in the loop by signing up for our mailing list below, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor.

Contact Local Leaders

For maximum impact, please send all three letters below!

Tell the Town of Ulster Planning & Town Boards…

As Lead Agency in the SEQR environmental review of Zena Development’s proposed subdivision and road extension, the Ulster Planning Board must issue a Positive Declaration because of the many, significant negative impacts Zena Development’s proposal would have on the towns of Ulster and Woodstock. It would be impossible for Zena Development to mitigate all of these negative impacts. As identified by Ulster’s Town Planner in the Full Environmental Assessment Form Part 2, these potential moderate to large adverse impacts include:

- Damage to the land through significant excavation and construction in areas where the water table is less than three feet deep, increasing the risk of erosion

- Damage to unique land forms including caves, cliffs and Bluestone Quarries

- The degradation of neighboring wetlands and nearby waterbodies, especially through the creation of stormwater discharge

- The loss of wildlife, including rare species, and adverse impacts on the habitats that they rely upon

- Noise from this subdivision would be audible, and the buildings would potentially be visible, from the Woodstock Land Conservancy’s neighboring Israel Wittman Sanctuary, detracting from the public’s ability to enjoy this serene wildlife sanctuary

- Damage to the vital “ecosystem services” provided by the undeveloped 625+ acre forest, including stormwater storage, nutrient cycling and wildlife habitat

- Damage to Woodstock’s Zena Woods Critical Environmental Area that neighbors the proposed subdivision and through which Eastwoods Drive would be extended

- Increased traffic that would exceed the capacity of surrounding roads in Woodstock, Saugerties and Kingston, including Zena Highwoods/Church Road and Sawkill Road

- The brightening of the sky at night, reducing neighbor’s enjoyment of the area’s rural character, and negatively impacting wildlife

- Noise pollution that would damage the peaceful nature of the community, and that would disturb sensitive wildlife species

- As of yet unknown impacts on historic or archaeological resources

- Damage to the low-density, rural community character of the Zena neighborhood in Woodstock. By failing to address the area housing crisis and damaging a Critical Environmental Area, Zena Development’s subdivision would be fundamentally contradict the vision laid out in Woodstock’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan.

Members of the Woodstock and Ulster community believe that Zena Development’s proposal would have additional, significant negative impacts not identified by the Town of Ulster’s Town Planner, including:

- As of yet unstudied impacts on electrical infrastructure within the neighborhood

- Zena Development’s proposal would interfere with easements held by Woodstock residents for Eastwoods Drive and the active “Strip in the Woods” rural airstrip

-The subdivision would create a demand for additional community services, including police, fire and ambulance services

If you prefer to cut and paste the email addresses: planningzoning@townofulster.ny.gov, lhartmann@townofulster.ny.gov, mschatzel@townofulster.ny.gov, maryannd@townofulster.ny.gov, ulstersupervisor@townofulster.ny.gov

Email the Town of Ulster Planning & Town Boards

Tell the Town of Woodstock Planning & Town Boards…

Just say no! Zena Development’s proposal would provide no benefit to the Town of Woodstock. The Woodstock Planning Board must adhere to the laws and regulations of the Town of Woodstock, and deny Zena Development’s application for access through Woodstock to their proposed subdivision in the Town of Ulster.

The following sections of Woodstock’s Subdivision Regulations require the Woodstock Planning Board to deny Zena Development’s request to issue waivers that would allow Eastwoods Drive to serve as the subdivision’s only access road:

Article VII § 202-29A(4)(a): “The subdivision of land shall be such as to provide each lot with satisfactory access, via suitably improved private or public roads, for routine and emergency purposes from the community's system of roadways…” Woodstock’s own Traffic consultant, Mr. Maffia, stated of Eastwoods Drive in his report to the Woodstock Planning Board: “I believe these to be unacceptably excessive roadway lengths with regard to safety, since unexpected access road blockages could lead to delays in emergency response times for first responders – fire, police and EMS.”

Article VII § 202-29A(5): “Access from privately owned and maintained shared driveways and roads, as may be authorized under § 280-a of the Town Law, shall be deemed acceptable only if such roads are designed and improved in accordance with Article VII, §…202-32 of these regulations or the current road specifications for the Town of Woodstock…”

Article VII § 202-32A: “Roads shall be of sufficient width, suitably located, and adequately constructed to accommodate the prospective road maintenance equipment, service and emergency vehicles. The arrangement of roads shall be coordinated such that they compose a convenient system, cause no undue hardship to adjoining properties…”

Article VII § 202-32C: “Subdivisions containing 20 or more lots shall have at least two connections with existing roads…” Zena Development’s proposed subdivision would have 30 lots and a private recreation center.

Article VII § 202-32D(1): “Any cul-de-sac or permanent dead-end road shall be restricted to a length of 2,000 feet in order to provide for convenience of traffic movement and to facilitate effective police, fire and related emergency protection…” As proposed, Eastwoods Drive would be extended to a total length of approximately 4800’ feet within the Town of Woodstock, and over 7000 feet in total from the intersection of Zena Highwoods and Eastwoods Drive to the furthest lot in the subdivision.

Article VII § 202-32E: “Roads shall be laid out and constructed in accordance with the minimum design standards set forth in these regulations, Subsection F, Minor roads, and Subsection G, Major and intermediate roads, whether intended for public or private ownership...A road serving 11 or more lots shall be classified as a major road.”

Article VII § 202-32E(2)(a): “In consideration of modification or waiver of these requirements the Planning Board shall consider the following: [1] The adequacy of proposed roadway with respect to the public health, safety and general welfare. [2] The special circumstances of the particular roadway. [3] The ability of service and emergency vehicles to gain unobstructed access to each lot and building site.”

Article VII § 202-32G(4): “The minimum width of road right-of-way shall be 50 feet and the minimum width of road pavement shall be 20 feet with shoulders on each side of a width of four feet.”

Article X § 202-43: “The Planning Board may waive upon specific request and by specific resolution, subject to appropriate conditions and guarantees, for such period as it may determine, the requirements of these regulations relative to the provision and design of any or all required improvements which in its judgment of the special circumstances of a particular plat or plats are not requisite to the interests of the public health, safety and general welfare of the Town, or are not appropriate because of the inadequacy or lack of connecting facilities adjacent to or in the proximity of the proposed subdivision.” Granting waivers so that Zena Development’s subdivision may have a single access road is NOT in the interest of the public health, safety and general welfare of the Town.

Denying the requested waivers for a single access road is not a solution to the Zena Development problem. Zena Development has admitted, in writing, that the proposed secondary access road violates Woodstock’s regulations, stating: “Granting the requested waiver [for a single access road] is in the interest of the public health, safety and general welfare of the Town because completing a secondary access road creates redundant ground disturbance and tree clearing”

The following section of Woodstock’s Subdivision Regulations require the Woodstock Planning Board to deny Zena Development’s application with two access roads:

Article III § 202-11: “The following objectives shall guide the Planning Board's decisions on proposed subdivisions so as to promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare…

F. Proper provision shall be made for the permanent reservation of land for parks and public open space for the protection of significant historical and environmental features, and maintenance of natural drainage patterns. All future subdivision development shall protect the Town’s environment and its natural resources including: ground and surface waters; waterways; woodlands; ridgelines and steep slopes; wildlife habitats; and air and soils. All future subdivision development shall be designed to restrict and minimize excess noise, air pollution, water pollution, and light pollution; to create a suitable system of maintaining open spaces; and to protect and enhance existing wooded areas, scenic locations as may be identified by the Town of Woodstock…

I. Future development shall be consistent with the Town’s desire to maintain Woodstock’s present rural, small-town, economically diverse character and its scenic and natural beauty.”

The Woodstock Planning Board would violate local law, as well as their duty to serve their community members, if they approve Zena Development’s application. In so doing, the Woodstock Planning Board would place the town in legal jeopardy, forcing the town to defend a decision that violates its own laws, and setting a precedent whereby future developers would expect and pursue similar waivers for future destructive proposals.

If you prefer to cut and paste the email addresses: pcross@woodstockny.gov, jkerman@woodstockny.gov, jlavalle@woodstockny.gov, jconrad@woodstockny.gov, gyearick@woodstockny.gov, jdrue@woodstockny.gov, gtartell@woodstockny.gov, planning@woodstockny.gov, supervisor@woodstockny.gov, lricci@woodstockny.gov, losmond@woodstockny.gov, lkorolkoff@woodstockny.gov, rearls@woodstockny.gov, deputysupervisor@woodstockny.gov

Email the Woodstock Planning & Town Boards

Tell Our County & State Leaders…

The Town of Ulster Planning Board has failed to follow the SEQR process and NYS Open Meetings Law, has failed to fully respond to FOIL requests, and is deleting documents related to Zena Development from their website.

Our county and state leaders must step in to address the Town of Ulster’s failure to follow democratic processes and local and state laws.

The link below contacts: Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, and the Ulster County Planning Board.

If you prefer to cut and paste the email addresses: exec@ulstercountyny.gov, hinchey@nysenate.gov, planning@ulstercountyny.gov, shresthas@nyassembly.gov

County & State Leaders
Congressman Ryan's Contact Form

Get a Yard Sign!

Our new yard signs will be available for pick-up from the Woodstock Land Conservancy’s office at 74 Mill Hill Road (directly across from Sunflower):

Wednesday 1/14 from 1 - 2 PM

Thursday 1/15 from 10 - 11 AM

Thursday 1/22 from 2 - 3 PM

If you are able, please help us cover our printing costs with a $10 donation when you pick up your sign! We can accept cash, check and credit card payments.

Volunteer

Sign Our Petitions