A developer’s recent name change and focus on the Town of Ulster isn’t going to stop an activist group from fighting a housing development it believes is harmful to the environment and a strain on local resources.
Woodstock National originally sought nearly 200 rentals and townhomes as well as an 18-hole golf course on 624 acres. The development’s principals have changed gears and changed their name to Zena Development, teaming with a PR consultant and launching a website, zena-homes.com. Their website says they have no plans for Woodstock and are focusing on the 104 acres in the Town of Ulster.
“Their change in proposal hasn’t made any difference in our in the strength of our concerns,” said Susan Paynter, co-chair of the Stop Zena Development steering committee.
Stop Woodstock National too has changed its name and website. It’s now Stop Zena Development.
“We have that URL, as well as our old one,” she explained. “And we’ve ordered new signs, and we’ve ordered stickers for the existing signs that say Stop Zena Development.”
The former url, stopwoodstocknational.org, now automatically redirects to the new one.
“I think what’s really clear to us is that our coalition is committed to protecting the forest, regardless of an arbitrary town border,” Paynter said. “I think one of the main concerns we have is that the Ulster portion of this parcel is adjacent to the Israel Whitman Sanctuary. And it is the habitat for a number of endangered species, both plant and animal. The animals aren’t going to care about an arbitrary border, nor are we.”
Ulster is getting involved. Watchdog group Ulster Citizens has been apprised of the plans.
“We meet with them weekly now. We’ve been meeting with them for at least six weeks. We meet every Wednesday with them,” Paynter said.
The only access to the land is through the Town of Woodstock via Eastwoods Drive. Police, fire and rescue services must come from Woodstock.
Even if Zena Development were to negotiate access through the Ulster side, the terrain is difficult. “It’s a lot of slopes, and the flattest part is very close to the Israel Whitman Sanctuary,” Paynter said.
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