THE SAFETY CRISIS
30 to 77 subdivision households with one escape route: a narrow 7000 foot private road.
One downed tree across the access road could delay escape or emergency access.
Could we trust the subdivision’s HOA to maintain the private access road?
Would subdivision residents be able to call for help with limited cell service?
The subdivision is in the Ruby fire district, but the Ruby firehouse would be over 15 minutes away.
All of the subdivision’s taxes would go to Ulster. All of the burdens would fall on Woodstock.
Woodstock’s traffic consultant stated that as planned a single access road would be unsafe. Ulster’s consultants stated that as planned the subdivision’s roads would be unsafe for subdivision pedestrians.
The subdivision would be entirely in the Kingston City School District.
WE CANNOT WAIVE SAFETY…
THE LAW STATES
WOODSTOCK REGULATIONS
Subdivisions with 20 or more lots shall have at least two access roads
Cul-de-sacs shall be no longer than 2000’
TOWN OF ULSTER CODE
No dead-end street may be constructed with more than 20 lots
Dead-end streets shall normally not exceed 1200’
ZENA DEV. WANTS
A waiver to allow Eastwoods Drive to be the only access road to their 30-lot subdivision
A waiver to extend Eastwoods Drive to over 7000’ from the intersection with Zena Highwoods to the farthest lot in the subdivision
A waiver to widen sections of Eastwoods Drive to just 20’
…AND WE WON’T SACRIFICE OUR FORESTS.
Zena Development cautioned the Woodstock Planning Board that if their waiver for a single access road is denied, they will propose a 9800’ secondary access road through wetlands and high quality forests.
The extension of Eastwoods Drive would also make it easier to develop - or sell - the rest of Zena Development’s 520+ acres in Woodstock.
All of Zena Development’s Woodstock property is located in the Zena Woods Critical Environmental Area. This CEA was created to highlight the forest’s biodiversity, rare species, important habitats and community benefits like flood prevention.
The secondary access road would come dangerously close to an active, NYS Threatened Bald Eagle nest. The extension and expansion of Eastwoods Drive would also encroach on wetlands and impact sensitive species including migrating vernal pool amphibians.
Juvenile NYS Threatened Bald Eagle in Zena Woods, July 2024Developer Evan Kleinberg indicated in a recent interview that most - if not all - of the subdivision’s houses would cost at least $1 million. Why should Woodstock sacrifice the high quality forests, wetlands and wildlife of our CEA for luxury housing in the Town of Ulster?
WOODSTOCK MUST STOP ZENA DEVELOPMENT
Risks to Woodstock:
Increased traffic risk for pedestrians
All of the subdivision taxes go to Ulster, but increased traffic in Woodstock would burden Woodstock tax payers with increased road maintenance costs
Failure to provide the housing that Woodstock needs
Unstudied aquifer and well water impacts
Harm to Woodstock’s Zena Woods Critical Environmental Area (CEA) and wildlife
Pollution of the Woodstock Land Conservancy’s Israel Wittman Sanctuary
Risk that the Eastwoods extension would make it easier for Zena Development to develop or sell their 500+ acres in Woodstock
THE WOODSTOCK PLANNING BOARD CAN STOP THEM
To get to their subdivision in Ulster, Zena Development needs access through Woodstock.
One access road would put lives and property at risk. Two access roads would irreparably harm Woodstock’s fragile Zena Woods Critical Environmental Area.
The Woodstock Planning Board MUST deny Zena Development’s application.
No access, no subdivision.