New Members Please Give a Little Info Here

[Marcia Lynn]

First, I'd like to say, I love Little River!

I've lived here for 22 years, since 1986, my son was born and raised here, and we live one block off the waterway within walking distance of the historic waterfront.

My parents (before my Mom died from complications of diabetes at the too-early age of 51) owned Palmetto General Store / Palmetto Supply, which was the general store/deli in the location on Hwy 17 where Jay's is now.

We work in our home office/studio, and are members of all three chambers: Little River, North Myrtle, and Myrtle Beach; my husband also serves on the North Strand Council for the Myrtle Beach Chamber.

We watched Little River change over the years, and cannot say we've liked many of the changes. A few were good, like problems eliminated, the water quality improved, etc. Most other changes, like the uncontrolled growth, bright lights, inappropriate traffic lights and patterns, we haven't liked. The current growth and improvements with our chamber of commerce we like. Some of the things with Blue Crab we've liked. Some have made us wince, like when we saw vendors pounding their stakes through (what is our year-round, permanent) street to erect their temporary, 2-day tents.

We love the historic waterfront and don't like how it's been paved over for parking lots to handle the gamblers.

We don't object to the boats, we just object to them HERE at the waterfront in Little River. We thought where the Riverboat restaurant wasn't all that bad as it was much less residential. But we hear that has now been annexed into North Myrtle Beach so don't know if the gambling boats can relocate there.

We know all the fishermen, and think they're the ones that should be at the docks in Little River, not the highest bidders.

We watched the land around our property be gobbled and developed, including what was supposed to be wetlands to the rear of our property.

We regularly see displaced deer, raccoons, possums, snakes, turtles (although many, many less than years ago, we believe they've been mostly eliminated with rapid development in our area), birds, and other wildlife who no longer have the many trees, woods, and wetlands to live within they had just a few short years ago.

I am one of those people who looks at older photos of Little River and cries.

[bdejosia]

I first came to Little River in 1989 with a group of golfers and when I left after 4 days, I knew that I wanted to retire in a place exactly like Little River. I bought my first vacation condo at Cypress bay in 1993. My family has vacationed here every year since then. My wife and I moved permanently to Little River in January 2003. We moved from Cypress bay to a condo on the waterway not far from the waterfront. This year we bought a house near the county park. My son moved to Calabash 3 yrs. ago and we have 2 grandchildren living here. I am a retired Engineer and my wife retired from the Government.

I have lived by the water all my life and I have seen what can happen to beaches and lakes in communities that allow uncontrolled growth. This area has changed dramatically from when I first came here 19 years ago, most of the change has involved development with little or no planning. I don't subscribe to the theory that says "that's Progress". I truly believe a comprehensive plan for Little River is needed now while we have a lull in development. How that is accomplished, I believe, is through a strong local government that respects the character of our Village. I can tell you this if we wait for the County to deliver the plan it will be to late.

I am willing to invest my time and training to insure my grandchildren can come and visit their Grandparents in the Historic Fishing Village of Little River.

[Bob Weldon]

Hi all,

My name is Bob Weldon. My wife, daughter and I have lived in Little River since 1999. Wish it were earlier than that!

[tmlong]

I am Toni Long and have lived here the majority of my life. I have seen alot of changes and "progess" in the last 23 years. My family had a general store in Little River- at that time there was no grocery store. Food Lion came in and we had to adapt to progress. Fortunately for that type of business we could do that. My husband and his family have been here in Little River all their lives. My husbands father was one of the original residents to start the fishing in Little River. My husband and his family & other fishermen can not adapt so easily. So, as you can guess we strongly want to keep the fishing village, atmosphere and undisturbed nature of the waterfront. I don't have any objection to the gambling boats- just where they are located. I also know that we must grow or have progress but I have a different idea or vision. I hope others do as well. I see the waterfront becoming more like Murrells Inlet and having a connecting dock to all the restaurants and boats. I see alot more shops to walk to - not parking lots. Now my question is who can help that vision become reality???? Is it the county, Harold Worley, this incorporation committee??? It has been stated that the county isn't helping us but have we asked for this type of help specifically????
I want that to be a goal for one of these entities. There are alot of other concerns for Little River also but our most important is the waterfront. For us it isn't just a place to live but it is how we make a living.

[lwaddill]

I have had a condo in Mariner's Pointe for 8 years. I love Little River. I know that change is coming and growth is coming. I think it is important that the change and growth be planned for and done in such a way that it is best for LIttle River now and for in the future.

Little River is full of natural beauty and I hope that never changes.

Lorraine

[caroline]

My husband and I had been visiting this area since our first grand child was born in Little River. We finally took the plunge and moved down to a home in Wren's Crossing. We have seen the growth take place in the last 15 years, both in the area and our now grown up grandchild. She was born when her family lived in Eastport, when there were only two condo buldings standing and a few single family homes.
We love this area. We moved here because we loved the people here, the peacefulness of the community and also because we were tired of just living to pay expenses. We can enjoy life here and not have to worry about the metropolitan nonsense that we left behind. We have met many wonderful friends and hope we can help to preserve what we once saw in this area just 15 years ago.

[Eastcoast05]

I have lived in Horry County for 20 years with the exception of 1 year (2006 - 2007) when I move to North Carolina. My husband and I came back last year to my Alma Mater's - CCU Homecoming and decided to look for a home as we both wanted to relocate back to the coast. We wanted to come to an area that had the least amount of traffic, was more like a little town, and was known for its fishing as my husband is an avid fisherman. Little River was obviously hands down the first choice. The only thing that we were dismayed about was the fact that my husband's military retirement would now be state taxed whereas in North Carolina it wasn't.

We still support Little River as a small township and fishing village and are NOT in favor of annexation, mainly because we do not want to see property snatched up to have condos and the like erected solely for the purpose of bringing in more tax dollars. Little River has done quite well in the past and we feel that the community can come together to provide what is necessary in the future. It is not a matter of our personal property taxes going up - we can handle $120 more per year, it is the thought of the uniqueness of our town changing which is something we are totally against!