Long-term traffic increases and construction traffic during the years-long construction process would put pedestrians and local drivers at risk. Zena Highwoods/Church road is windy, narrow, has many blind curves, and is already dangerous for local folks.

The potential impacts on the unconsolidated aquifer that extends under the Zena neighborhood have not been thoroughly studied. Some neighborhood residents are already struggling with their wells running dry. Would our water run out, or become polluted?

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?

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.

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?

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.

Years of construction traffic and long-term traffic increases would mean increased road maintenance costs and increased taxes for local tax payers.