Update from Stop Zena Development: Does Woodstock Want Equal Footing?

Woodstock Planning Board Should Ask to be SEQRA Lead

by Stop Zena Development

It's been an interesting turn of events since the Town of Ulster's Planning Board suddenly decided to put Zena Development back on its agenda earlier this month, and it voted at that same meeting to serve as lead agency for the SEQRA process. It seems to be an about-face from the Town of Ulster's 2024 stance on the proposed development's review process.

Ulster Town Supervisor Jim Quigley was quoted in a March 2024 Hudson Valley One article as saying the following: "'They [Zena Development] presented a development that was to be built entirely within the Town of Ulster. My response was the town was going to ask for joint lead agency with the Town of Woodstock.' Quigley continued. 'The question [from the developers] was asked, why? The answer to that question was, all the impacts are in the Town of Woodstock. In other words, you can’t get to the project site from the Town of Ulster. Therefore, the police can’t respond. The firemen can’t respond. The ambulances can’t respond. The traffic is going to go through the Town of Woodstock. So that’s what we told them'.” [emphasis added]

Jason Kovacs, who serves as the Town of Ulster attorney, was quoted in a July 2024 Hudson Valley One article saying the Ulster Planning Board needed to wait until Woodstock completed its review before even considering any move related to the SEQRA. "'I think this application is contingent on Woodstock,' he said. 'So you have to move ahead with Woodstock for this board to really take any action here.'

Only then, Kovacs said, could the Ulster town planning board initiate the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process. 'I think the board would like to see this done simultaneously with Woodstock,' agreed Ulster planning chair Rory Lee. 'We can at that point circulate information'.”

Quigley's clear statement that all of the impacts are in Woodstock and both Kovacs' and Lee's comments about Woodstock needing to first approve the Eastwoods Drive proposal make the Ulster Planning Board's May 13 vote confusing. What has changed? All of the concerning impacts that Quigley summarized are still going to impact Woodstock, and the Woodstock Planning Board still must make a decision about Eastwoods Drive.

Should Woodstock's Planning Board ask for SEQRA lead agency status? If you think that answer is a resounding yes, please let them know! The agenda for the June 5 meeting has not been published, so we don't even know if the Planning Board is going to discuss Zena Development.

There is a state process for determining which municipality is granted lead agency status, but there's a 30-day window from Ulster's vote for Woodstock to make its request. If 30 days passes without Woodstock making its own request, the Ulster Planning Board will be granted lead agency status.

As we mentioned last week, attorneys for the Woodstock Land Conservancy distributed a letter to the Woodstock Planning Board the day after the Ulster board's vote reminding the members that the significant environmental concerns are in Woodstock even if the proposed development is in Ulster. Traffic concerns, wetlands protections, wildlife migration, noise and the requested length of the road are just a few of the issues that should prompt Woodstock Planning Board to request lead agency status. The protection of the Critical Environmental Area should be paramount.

There's only a few days to let your Planning Board members know your thoughts. If you live in Woodstock and want your Planning Board to request SEQRA lead agency status to ensure your town has an equal seat at the table with the Town of Ulster during the review of the environmental impacts of this proposed development, email the members today at Planning Board. You can also send the same letter to Hudson Valley One and The Daily Freeman as a letter to the editor.

If you live in the Town of Ulster, please write your Planning Board to ask why the members are contradicting the Town Supervisor's March 2024 comments as well as the town attorney who advised the members to wait for Woodstock to complete its review process regarding Eastwoods Drive before taking up the proposed development in Ulster. We encourage you to send your letter to the local newspapers as well by clicking the red links above.

We know this has been a long fight, and we anticipate it will be longer. Each step makes such a difference, however, and making sure Woodstock and Ulster are on equal footing for the SEQRA process is a central step. Please let your Planning Board members know your thoughts on Woodstock's role in the State Environmental Quality Review. Thanks for making your voices heard!