North Bellmore strip club owner Billy Dean is going back to State Supreme Court in an attempt to reverse a judge’s upholding the Town of Hempstead zoning board’s for his cabaret application on 3500 Sunrise Highway in Wantagh.
Dean and his business partner Rori Gordon of Green 2009, Inc. have filed a motion asking Justice Antonio Brandveen to reverse his May ruling and grant a cabaret license. Justice Brandveen was scheduled to take up Dean's motion at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Nassau County Supreme Court in Mineola but the case has now been adjourned to July 17.
Dean’s suit filed against the Town of Hempstead that Justice Brandveen rejected this past spring argued that the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) should have never revoked its original June 2010 approval for cabaret usage on 3500 Sunrise Highway in Wantagh. The BZA decided last March to schedule a of Dean’s application due to vocal that mounted against the development, as well as a belief that not enough people were notified of the original hearing date. The suit also pointed out that the property has had cabaret usage for previously opened bars and restaurants going back to the late 60s.
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The Hempstead BZA’s rejection of Dean’s cabaret application came in the midst of community that mounted against him because of fears he would operate his Wantagh similar to in North Bellmore, which is advertised on its website as "Long Island’s No. 1 strip club." A cabaret license would permit Dean to offer live music, dancing and entertainment but no topless or nude performers.
A staunch opponent of Dean being granted a cabaret license for his Sunrise Highway property has been Kevin Milano of Wantagh, who is planning to attend Tuesday's court session along with other concerned residents.
"We're not giving up our fight until we're told it's over," Milano said. "We cannot have a strip club near our children and change the character of our community."
Dean's legal counsel could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.
Billy Dean’s website provides a link with information that describes the planned Wantagh venue as one that will offer dinner entertainment with audience participation catering to bachelor, bachelorette and birthday parties. Dean his planned establishment during a May 18, 2011 zoning board hearing as one that would feature “a Las Vegas style feel” with jugglers, knife throwers and dancers.
Dean, a Commack resident, acquired the 3500 Sunrise Highway property on the corner of Oakland Avenue in 2009 for $950,000. He is also from the Hempstead Town Board of Appeals on a request to renew his cabaret permit at Billy Dean’s Showtime Café in North Bellmore.
