North Bellmore strip club owner Billy Dean’s against the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) after it a cabaret application for his planned Wantagh business is scheduled to be heard at Nassau County Supreme Court in Mineola this Wednesday.
Dean’s suit against the town, filed in Nassau County Supreme Court last October, argues that the Hempstead BZA should have never revoked its original June 2010 approval for cabaret usage on 3500 Sunrise Highway in Wantagh. The zoning board decided last March to schedule a of Dean’s application under the name Green 2009, Inc. due to vocal that mounted against the development as well as a belief that not enough people were notified of the original hearing. Many protests have been held in front of 3500 Sunrise Hwy. in the last year because of fears that Dean will operate his Wantagh establishment similar to in North Bellmore, which is advertised on its website as Long Island’s No. 1 strip club.
Wednesday’s hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. is being heard by Judge Antonio Brandveen. The law firm retained by the Town of Hempstead to fight Dean’s appeal is Berkman, Henoch, Peterson, Peddy & Fenchel, P.C. in Garden City.
"We will absolutely defend the decision of the board vigoursly in court by all means possible," said Town of Hempstead spokesman Mike Deery.
Dean’s attorney William Cohn could not be reached for comment but said in October that his client’s suit is aimed at reversing the BZA's late August ruling and does not seek any monetary damages from the town. The suit argues that the zoning board "had no basis" for revoking its previous approval of cabaret on 3500 Sunrise Hwy., which Dean acquired in 2009 for $950,000. The property on the corner of Oakland Avenue has had cabaret usage for previously opened bars and restaurants going back to the late 60's, the suit points out.
If Dean, a Commack resident, is able to get the BZA’s decision reversed and be granted a cabaret license, it would enable the 3500 Sunrise Highway business to offer live music, dancing and entertainment. The cabaret usage would not however permit topless or nude entertainment.
Billy Dean’s website provides a link with information that describes the planned business as one that will offer dinner entertainment with audience participation catering to bachelor, bachelorette and birthday parties. Dean his planned business during a May 18 zoning board hearing as one that would feature “a Las Vegas style feel” with jugglers, knife throwers and dancers.
