Connecticut couple built trails on 50 acres; zoning dispute shuts hikers out

A Connecticut couple who bought 50 acres of land in Roxbury in 2022 is fighting a zoning dispute after town officials told them they could not continue allowing hikers and dog owners to use their private forest trails for a fee.According to CT Mirror, Charles and Eli Copley had bought the property with plans to renovate an old cottage and manage the surrounding woodland. The couple worked with a forester to develop a forest management plan. The work included removing rubbish, deteriorating hunting structures and invasive species from the property. They also built a trail system through the woods to improve access for managing the land and eventually created about 1.3 miles of trails.The Copleys also wanted regular foot traffic to help control low-growing vegetation on the trails.