TOWN OF Ulster, N.Y. — Opposition to the proposed 720-acre Woodstock National Golf course is coming from a grassroots group over its possible effects to an environmentally sensitive area.

Among the concerns expressed during a Town Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17, included the amount of land that would be cleared and doubts about the developer’s long-term maintenance plan for the 18-hole course.

“The golf course planner claims to have a strong focus on conservation with the golf course being a non-chemicalized sustainer of the natural environment,” Town of Ulster Citizens Vice Chairman Regis Obijiski said. “That seems to us more aspirational than practical. Conservation denotes preservation and protection, but it should not connote exploitation and change of purpose.”

In July, developers submitted to the Woodstock town Planning Board a plan for the golf course in which three of the 18 holes would be in the town of Ulster. Woodstock would host the remaining 15 holes as well as 12 to 24 units of affordable housing and 90 single-family houses on 520 acres.

The project would be along Zena Highwoods Road and Eastwoods Drive, as well as abutting all of the city of Kingston-owned property that runs along Sawkill Road. It would also include areas that abut the Sawkill Creek and would encompass most of the eastern section of a bald eagle foraging area used for an active nest on Kingston Reservoir property.

“We do not need more clear-cutting of trees planned for these 106 acres of Ruby Woods, a parcel which borders a conserved forest that is overseen by the Woodstock Land Conservancy,” Obijiski said. “Plans for residential water include only private wells, which may or may not be adequate for 77 townhomes and may or may not compromise wetlands. The same is true of water required for the golf course.”

Town of Ulster Citizens also considers the project to be adding to a saturated market for the sport.

“Within 20 miles of the town of Ulster there are already 20 serviceable golf courses,” Objiski said. “Two of them, Wiltwyck Golf Club in the town of Ulster and the Woodstock Golf Club, are near the proposed site and would welcome new members. Wiltwyck, once a members-only club for people in our area, has for several years welcomed public play because they cannot recruit enough members to achieve economic viability.”

Supervisor James Quigley said after the meeting the town is seeking to have a joint lead agency designation with Woodstock town officials for environmental reviews.

“It would be just like the city of Kingston did with the town of Ulster for Hudson Landing,” he said.

However, Quigley acknowledged he does not have detailed information about the project because developers have yet to approach Ulster town officials with an application.

“Since they haven’t come here I don’t know how to react,” Quigley said.