River parcel the key to Lake Ozark plan

City's untapped interior development hinges on 18 acres along Osage River leased by AmerenUE to American Legion Post, officials say

By Joyce L. Miller/Lake Sun
Published: Thursday, January 11, 2007

LAKE OZARK ' The potential for transforming more than 1,200 acres of the city into a sprawling retail, commercial and residential area may rest on a small parcel of land that sits below Bagnell Dam on the Osage River.

The 18 acres, owned by AmerenUE and leased by American Legion Post 229, is critical to bringing a secondary roadway through the interior of the city to the north end of the Bagnell Dam Strip. That would improve access to the strip and is considered a keystone in revitalizing the historic Bagnell Dam area.

Efforts to obtain the parcel of land have been hampered by a recent ruling from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The ruling said the land, located within the flood plain, must continue to offer public access and recreational opportunities.

Although the ruling prevents AmerenUE from transferring ownership of the land, it does not preclude a lease agreement with another entity.

Since the ruling late last month, AmerenUE has had little to say on what is going to happen with the land. The American Legion is on a month-to-month lease with a provision that allows for a six-month notice if the utility company is not interested in renewing the lease.

In the meantime, Silver Star Development has been waiting for a decision from FERC and AmerenUE to determine the fate of a redevelopment plan being proposed for the property.


An adjoining parcel that includes approximately 116 acres approved for sale by FERC is expected to be transferred to Silver Star Development, but that could change if some type of agreement is not reached between Silver Star, AmerenUE and the American Legion.

The controversy over the property has been stirring heated debate for more than a year. Now, with the plans for the Horseshoe Bend Parkway on the fast track, some city officials are worried the latest development between FERC and AmerenUE will cause a glitch in the overall development plan.

They believe the Armitage development goes hand-in-hand with the development group's plan for building roads into the undeveloped interior of the city.


Within that plan is the potential for homes, retail, commercial and other attractions that would make Lake Ozark a destination location, generate millions of dollars of much-needed sales taxes and increase the revenue generated from property taxes.

Concerned that only one side of the issue is being heard, they are hoping to rally support for the project that will be heard by the decision makers at FERC and AmerenUE.

'I don't think the hierarchy at AmerenUE or the bureaucrats at FERC understand the importance of this project to the future development of the city. They are disconnected from the issue,' Lake Ozark Alderman Jeff Van Donsel said. 'The time to push is now. The proposed plans have been endorsed by the city, business community and others who now need to send that message to both entities, especially AmerenUE because they can make this happen. They need to know what the community wants and how to best maintain public access.'


Mayor Paul Sale agrees.

'Lake Ozark's future is depending on projects of this magnitude,' he said. 'This issue needs to be resolved. We have to decide what type of community we want to become. We won't continue to draw developments of this magnitude if we don't move forward. It's time to decide whether we want to be a growing community or one that entices people to come here. This project is a key component to changing the complexion, the landscape of our community.'

For the Horseshoe Bend Development Group, Armitage would be a welcome addition to the Transportation Development District, helping to shoulder some of the expense of building the roadways.


'We believe that Silver Star's development of the AmerenUE property is the key component to the revitalization of the downtown area,' according to the HBDG representative Bill Kuhlow.