EMAIL ULSTER ASAP
We are asking folks to write letters to officials in Ulster ASAP. Based on the statements made at the May 12th Planning Board meeting, it appears that the Planning Board is poised to end the environmental review of Zena Development’s application, and THEN hold their first public hearing on Zena Development. Follow the steps below to write your email. If you have already written to Ulster and Woodstock, we are encouraging folks to write again!
We may not be granted the public hearing that we are asking for, but your letters build a strong record that we were denied a public hearing. That record will be used in future legal proceedings.
All emails must be kind and respectful of town officials and volunteers.
WHAT TO WRITE IN YOUR EMAIL
Put your message in your own words! Keep it short. It does not have to be perfect, as long as your letter is unique. Here is a suggestion for how to format your message:
Address your letter,
Example: Dear Ulster Officials,
Tell them who you are, where you live and why you are writing to them.
Example: I am writing as a resident of the Town of Woodstock because I am deeply concerned by Zena Development’s proposed subdivision and road extension.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE CUT AND PASTE THESE LINES:
The Town of Ulster must hold a public hearing about the environmental impacts covered under SEQR before a SEQR declaration is reached. Holding a public hearing after issuing a SEQR declaration is a bait and switch.
Explain why this is important.
Example: The Ulster Planning Board has not had the chance to hear comments from the public, and I am concerned our letters are not being reviewed. I believe our voices should be heard before the Planning Board members make their declaration.
Explain that a positive declaration is required. Not sure what this means? Keep scrolling for a bit more help writing your email!
Example: I believe that the many potential moderate to large impacts noted in the EAF Part 2 require a positive declaration under SEQR. I do not believe that these impacts have been mitigated to a degree that they can no longer be considered significant.
Be sure to explain why this matters to you personally. Just a few sentences are needed. Have a bit of writer’s block? Keep scrolling for a bit more help writing your email!
Example: I often walk my dog on Zena Highwoods/Church Road, and have had many scary run-ins with cars and trucks that are driving too fast around blind curves. I am concerned for the safety of myself and my neighbors if there are many years of subdivision and road construction, and traffic increases in our area because of the 30+ houses in Ulster.
Close your letter. Please include your address below your name to make it easy for readers to tell where you are writing from.
Example:
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
123 Forest Road
Woodstock, NY 12498
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A BIT OF BACKGROUND INFO:
In December, 2025, the Town of Ulster Planning Board identified over 30 “moderate to large” potential impacts of Zena Development’s proposed subdivision and road extension in Part Two of the SEQR environmental review process. A project with even one “moderate to large” potential impact must receive a “positive declaration” and a full environmental review. A “negative declaration,” on the other hand, would immediately end the environmental review process.
Since December, alterations to Zena Development’s project, and further info submitted by Zena Development’s hired consultants, have persuaded the Town of Ulster Town Planner that the 30+ moderate to large impacts he originally identified are no longer significant enough to require a positive declaration. At the 5/12/26 Town of Ulster Planning Board meeting, he recommended that the Planning Board members issue a negative declaration at their upcoming 6/9/26.
Stop Zena Development, the Woodstock Land Conservancy’s fantastic legal team, and many members of the community, passionately disagree. The changes to Zena Development’s projects do NOT sufficiently mitigate the many horrendous impacts of their proposed luxury subdivision. Additionally, the new reports submitted by Zena Development’s hired consultants are often misleading and factually inaccurate.
HERE ARE JUST A FEW IMPACTS YOU MIGHT DISCUSS:
Increased Traffic
Eastwoods Drive, the only access road to the proposed subdivision, connects to Zena Highwoods/Church Road. Zena Highwoods/Church Road is a narrow, winding, and unlined road with many blind curves. It is already dangerous for drivers and pedestrians, including young parents, senior citizens, cyclists and dog walkers. It would take years to build the proposed subdivision, which would mean years of large construction vehicles on local roads. The 30-lot subdivision would also mean long-term increases in traffic in the area. Zena Development’s 2024 traffic study was conducted while a segment of Sawkill Road was closed, so we do not have accurate data to understand the traffic impacts of their proposal. Furthermore, increased traffic will mean higher road maintenance costs and taxes for residents of Woodstock, Saugerties and the Town of Kingston.
Safety & First Responders
Safety hazards created by Zena Development could impact our community and local Fire and EMS volunteers. Woodstock’s Traffic Consultant deemed the extension of Eastwoods Drive unsafe because of its excessive length. Zena Development's subdivision would be surrounded by forest. If a fire ignites in the subdivision, patchy cell service could prevents residents from quickly calling for help, and it could takes 15+ minutes for first responders from Ruby to reach this Ulster subdivision. A wildfire could quickly spread into neighboring properties in Woodstock, Saugerties, Ulster and the Town of Kingston. Lastly, how could we be certain that "mutual aid" calls from Ruby for assistance in the subdivision would not place an unfair, uncompensated burden on geographically closer fire companies in Woodstock and Sawkill?
Water: Wells & Flooding
Zena Develompent’s 30-lot subdivision could impact water resources in Woodstock, Saugerties, Ulster and the Town of Kingston. The unconsolidated aquifer that lies under Zena Development’s property extends under all four towns. A hydrogeology study must be conducted and thoroughly reviewed by BOTH Ulster and Woodstock to understand the potential impact on already strained local wells. The community is also concerned that the tree-clearing and paving required by the subdivision, and potential future development on Zena Development’s property, could increase flooding risk on already flood-prone local roads like Sawkill Road by Sweet Meadows.
Impacts on the Israel Wittman Sanctuary
Zena Development would negatively impact the neighboring Woodstock Land Conservancy’s Israel Wittman Sanctuary. At two points, IWS trails draw very close to the proposed subdivision’s private recreation complex and the backyards of subdivision housing. Surface, noise and light pollution from the subdivision would adversely impact sensitive wildlife species that currently can be viewed in the sanctuary. Noise pollution from the subdivision would also detract from visitors' ability to enjoy the serene nature of the wildlife sanctuary, especially during the years-long subdivision construction period.
Community Character
Zena Development’s subdivision would have considerable impacts on their neighbors. Increased traffic would make Zena Highwoods/Church Road and Sawkill Road more dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. The location of the subdivision could push wildlife like bears out of the forest and into our neighborhoods more often. Thirty+ additional single family houses and a private recreation center could create disruptive noise pollution. The subdivision would include a private recreation center and an HOA, which would both be very out-of-place in nearby communities. Evan Kleinberg admitted in the Chronogram in 2025 that most subdivision houses would start at $1 million. Ulster has lax short term rental regulations. What if this subdivision turns into a subdivision of up-scale second houses and Airbnbs?
Environmental Impacts
Zena Development would seriously impact the environment. The proposed subdivision site is in a high quality forest that serves as a wildlife corridor connecting vital lowland forest habitats. The subdivision’s access road or roads would be located in Woodstock's Zena Woods Critical Environmental Area (CEA). Valuable habitats that the CEA was created to protect would be damaged, including fragile vernal pools potentially used by NYS Endangered Bog Turtles and rare breeding amphibians. Hudsonia, Woodstock's environmental consultant, has strongly recommended numerous additional environmental studies to understand how Zena Development would impact lands, wetlands, plants and wildlife in Woodstock. These studies have not yet been completed. The proposed route of the secondary access road that is legally required by Woodstock’s Subdivision Regulations would cut directly through bat foraging habitat for two NYS & federally Endangered Indiana and Northern Long-eared Bats. It would also come very close to an active NYS Threatened Bald Eagle nest.
WHERE TO SEND YOUR EMAIL
IMPORTANT: Please BCC szd@stopzena.org so we have a record that your letter was sent.
Here are all of the email addresses you need! This list includes Ulster and Woodstock officials. Although these emails target Ulster officials specifically, we want Woodstock officials to be aware of your emails as well!
planningzoning@townofulster.ny.gov, lhartmann@townofulster.ny.gov, mschatzel@townofulster.ny.gov, maryannd@townofulster.ny.gov, ulstersupervisor@townofulster.ny.gov, pcross@woodstockny.gov, jkerman@woodstockny.gov, jconrad@woodstockny.gov, JVescio@woodstockny.gov, jdrue@woodstockny.gov, gtartell@woodstockny.gov, mlauprete@woodstockny.gov, planning@woodstockny.gov, supervisor@woodstockny.gov, lricci@woodstockny.gov, losmond@woodstockny.gov, lkorolkoff@woodstockny.gov, rearls@woodstockny.gov, deputysupervisor@woodstockny.gov