Carolina Beach residents voice concerns, town to vote on helicopter tours

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Many Carolina Beach residents say they are not happy about the possibility of a helicopter touring business coming to the island.

The town was first presented with the idea last year, but council members will vote on whether  it will actually happen this week.

“It could devalue not only our property,”Jeff, a Carolina Beach resident, said. “It could devalue our way of life. It could devalue our beaches.”

Jeff and Patti moved to Carolina Beach a little more than three year ago. “We love the sound of the water,” Jeff said. “What don’t we want to hear? Noise!”

The couple created a “Concerned Citizens of Carolina Beach” Facebook page to spread awareness. Back in May, High Tide Helicopters in Southport proposed to expand its operation by putting a location on Pleasure Island.

Town council will vote Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. on whether to allow this to happen.

“We are hoping that town council will listen to the people,” Jeff said. “They’ll listen to the people who voted them in the positions they are in and if they listen to the people and use common sense, they are not going to want helicopter flying over our beautiful beaches.”

Some say they do have questions when it comes to the personal relationship between Mayor Dan Wilcox and Hide Tide Helicopters Owner Jessica Ward and how that could impact the council vote Tuesday.

Mayor Wilcox took to Facebook last month to address the issue.

While Jeff and Patti say the area is not right for this high flying addition, they plan to show up and speak out their concerns Tuesday.

“We need everyone who is concerned about Carolina Beach and the beaches on Pleasure Island to come out to show up at the meeting tomorrow night,” Jeff said. “Regardless whether they live here or not, because if they use the beaches they are not going to want to use these.”

Last May, Ward said she would only want to operate in that location just one day a week. The exact location on where the business would operate is still undetermined.