$10-a-hour hiking trails on Connecticut couple's 50-acre land spark zoning dispute

The Copleys wanted hikers to help keep low-growing vegetation under control. (Institute for justice photo) 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. Therefore, in 2024, they listed the property on Sniffspot, an online platform that allows people to rent private properties by the hour for dog walking. The Copleys charged $10 an hour and also allowed hikers to use the trails.The arrangement was meant to help maintain the trails and recover some of t...