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Advocates urge Bristol committee to buy parcels near Hoppers Preserve to block development
Summary
Members of the Friends of the Hoppers told the Bristol Real Estate Committee the city should consider buying several small parcels totaling roughly six acres near the Hoppers Birch Pond Nature Preserve to prevent proposed earth‑removal permits and a five‑home subdivision that they say would harm wetlands and wildlife.
Eric Madsen read a letter from the Friends of the Hoppers asking the Bristol Real Estate Committee to give "serious consideration" to acquiring several parcels in the center of the Hoppers Birch Pond Nature Preserve. The letter, addressed to the committee, identified five lots (including 45 and 51 Grassy Road and two Ambler Road lots) that the group said collectively amount to about six acres and are currently owned by HNT Holdings of Bristol LLC.
The letter said the parcels are zoned R40 and that the owner has applied for zoning approval and an earth‑removal special permit tied to a proposed five‑home subdivision. "Forest clear cutting will reduce and degrade the core forest," the letter said, warning that mining or earth removal could eliminate dammed wetlands and watercourses and harm wildlife. The group also noted that the state of Connecticut previously invested $1,500,000 in acquisition of Hoppers Preserve land.
Committee members asked questions about the factual background in the letter. One member said prior owners paid back taxes and that the parcels did not come to the city by direct offer; another summarized past open‑space purchases, including a Perkins Street acquisition that used a 75 percent open‑space grant and left the city paying an out‑of‑pocket portion. The committee chair said he would review the emailed materials, do background checks and follow up with the group after conducting due diligence.
Why it matters: Committee members said preserving contiguous forest and wetland buffers is a priority; the parcels cited sit near the preserve core and advocates said losing them would degrade wildlife habitat and visitor experience. The committee did not take immediate acquisition action at the meeting but committed to reviewing the submitted materials and reporting back to the correspondent.
Representative quote: "These properties are located in the center of the 300‑acre Hoppers Preserve where people go to experience nature," the letter read, urging acquisition to protect forest and wetlands.
Next steps: The chair said staff would examine feasibility and respond to the Friends of the Hoppers; any purchase would require further legal, financial and council approvals.
