Located within the recently designated Zena Woods Critical Environmental Area (see map below)

Ranked in the top 1% of Hudson Valley forests in terms of habitat diversity, and the top 5% of Hudson Valley forests overall

According to Hudsonia Limited’s “Significant Habitats in the Town of Woodstock, Ulster County, NY,” the forests in this area are “contiguous with public and private forests in the Town of Ulster measuring over 5,000 acres”

The New York Natural Heritage Program has indicated that the Zena Woods includes important summer foraging habitat for New York State Endangered Indiana and Northern Long-eared Bats

The Zena Woods Critical Environmental Area’s vernal pools provide habitat for numerous amphibians, including two NYS Species of Greatest Conservation Need: Jefferson and Marbled Salamanders

Important habitat for area-sensitive species that require large, unbroken forest tracts, including Scarlet Tanagers, Red-shouldered Hawks and Fishers

The Sawkill River flows through the Zena Woods, and Kingston Reservoir No. 1 borders the Zena Woods. These unique environments host a brilliant array of flora and fauna, including NYS Threatened Bald Eagles.

Purchased the 625+ acre completely forested property in late 2023 after severe backlash from the Woodstock community; over 400 Woodstockers put up yard signs opposing the developers before the sale.

ZDLLC’s initial proposal for the property included a 175-acre golf course, helipad and short-term rental villas.

Current plans for the property include a subdivision of an unknown scale on their 100+ acre, entirely forested parcel located in the Town of Ulster. This would require the extension of a private road through fragile wetlands in Woodstock.

Light and sound pollution from this development and its private pickleball courts would harm the neighboring Israel Wittman Sanctuary.

The proposed development in the Town of Ulster would only be accessible through the Town of Woodstock, placing a burden on Woodstock’s already strained fire and emergency services.

Although the developers claim otherwise, it is widely understood in the Woodstock community that the development would consist of luxury houses. The residents of this proposed subdivision would pay taxes to the Town of Ulster, HOA fees to maintain a long private road in an area with harsh winters, and - according to the developers - HOA fees to compensate Woodstock’s fire and EMS. Woodstock community members find it difficult to imagine that first-time home buyers and lower-income folks could afford these additional barriers to home-ownership.

From the Stop Zena Development website: “Stop Zena Development is a partnership between the Woodstock Land Conservancy, environmental activists in the community and non-profit entities. We believe the proposed development by Zena Development LLC (formerly Woodstock National LLC) will have a serious negative impact on habitat and the eastern Catskills region.”

Stop Zena Development’s organized community response to Zena Development LLC forced the developers to abandon their initial, egregious plans for an enormous golf course on the Woodstock portion of the property

Over the past year, Stop Zena Development has rallied community members to pack meeting halls in the Town of Ulster and the Town of Woodstock every time that Zena Development LLC developers have come before town officials

In mid-2024, the Woodstock Land Conservancy appealed the determination of Woodstock's Zoning Enforcement Officer to the Woodstock Zoning Board of Appeals, arguing that Zena Development LLC should not be permitted to extend Eastwoods Drive in Woodstock to access the land where they have proposed a subdivision.