Lakeside Bars Annexed: Increased Police Presence Expected

Photo byJayden HerronUnsplash

By Vicki Wood

In a month of special meetings and public hearings, the Village of Sunrise Beach accepted annexation requests for two longtime lakefront bars.

Prestige Lakewide LLC, the owner of Franky and Louie’s and Paradise Tropical Bar and Grill, received approval of a voluntary annexation by the Sunrise Beach Board of Trustees on Tuesday, May 13, 2024, at the May meeting.

An April 22 special meeting with Village Attorney Nathan Nickolaus, City Manager Steve Roth, board members, and George Tucker of Prestige Lakewide LLC, drafted a resolution authorizing annexation of both Franky and Louie’s and Paradise Tropical Bar and Grill into the village. Visitors' comments to the public meeting were none. The motion passed unanimously. In relation, approval for a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant for a Bike-Pedestrian Byway construction near the Paradise Property will allow for better access in the Village.

The 68 acres of Route TT were included in Franky & Louie’s annexation listed under Tucker Investments, Tucker Capital, and Drake Marine. The vacant land includes only the structures of the lakefront restaurant and two homes north of the restaurant. The annexation will be zoned C-3 for commercial use, and LFC-3 for lakefront properties. The public roads are not included such as State Route TT, Putt N Bay Drive, Shawnee View Drive, and Tropical Trail Road. Proposed future development includes a residential living center or event center. LFC-3 zoning could be used for water parks or a pool/aquatic facility for the Paradise location. The public sewer and water system of Sunrise Beach might be utilized in the future. There is no commitment of the city to extend utilities in any timeframe.

Law enforcement is the principal benefit of the annexation, says Sunrise Beach Police Chief Scott Craig. He expects an increase in his department’s usual workload of calls from the two lakefront bars. The Village Board approved two extra full-time officers for Craig’s department in anticipation of the increase in police presence in the regular Board of Trustees meeting Monday, May 13. A public hearing was held before the regular board meeting to approve the annexation of the final property of Tucker’s, Paradise Tropical Restaurant, completing the annexation of all of his investments. George Tucker and Gregory Tucker were in attendance at the meeting. 12 tracts in all were annexed under C-3 and LFC-3 zoning and the Drake’s Shawnee View Subdivision and Drake Marine.

Update 8/2/24-

There have, in fact, been multiple assist calls between the Laurie and Village of Sunrise Police Departments on calls for fights and unruly behavior at Frankie and Louies Beachfront Bar. In two departments that are already minimumly staffed, the annexation created more work for officers during the Lake of the Ozarks summer peak season.