LAKEPORT — The Lakeport Planning Commission approved extending The Full Throttle Tavern”s zoning permit allowing live entertainment after the bar successfully completed a four-month trial period last month.
“I was satisfied with the fact that the planning commission recognized the efforts that we made,” bar manager Sean Lyon said.
The bar, located at 650 S. Main St. in Lakeport, had its permit suspended in December because of excessive noise complaints and other issues associated with its presentation of live entertainment.
The commission approved live music trial periods in February and May after bar management made building improvements and worked with city staff to conform to new permit conditions.
Management has “made huge improvements” to the bar, such as adding sound-absorbent materials on floors and interior walls, to reduce external noise,” Lyon said.
The bar also has a new main entrance on the building”s north side, which projects sounds up Main Street when the door is opened.
The old main door on the west side of the bar is now an emergency exit. That door created a horn effect when opened and frequently directed bar sounds toward residences, Lyon said. Patrons also no longer congregate outside the front of the bar at night, he said.
The Full Throttle can now present live music subject to more than a dozen permit conditions, which the commission approved by a 4-0 vote at its Sept. 14 meeting.
The bar can have live music up to 12 nights per month, Thursdays through Sundays. The live entertainment must stop by 1 a.m. and non-live music can continue until 1:30 a.m.
Lyon said he had hoped the day and time restrictions would be removed because of the bar”s recent compliance record. “I wanted a clean slate,” he said.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said the number of complaints about the Full Throttle has “significantly” decreased this year.
“I believe they”ve worked hard to work with us to successfully reduce the number of complaints our department received,” he said.
Though the bar has made improvements, its business has been negatively impacted since the noise issues developed late last year, according to Lyon. “A lot of my business has gone elsewhere due to the number of complaints and negative exposure that we got,” he said. “It was a direct hit.”
Lyon added that business has begun to improve in the past few months, saying, “It”s starting to slowly climb back up but not anything close to what it was before this came about.”
The bar can now present live entertainment indefinitely, with no more trial periods. “Mainly, I want people to know that we have live music again,” Lyon said.
The commission could review the bar”s zoning permit if noise complaints again reach alarming levels, something Lyon doesn”t anticipate happening.
“I really don”t expect any issues. We”ve learned from mistakes we made in the past,” he said.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
