Politics & Government

Billy Dean to Appeal Zoning Board's Rejection of Wantagh Cabaret Application

Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray offers town's full legal support during appeal process.

A day after the Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) voted to a local strip club owner’s application for a cabaret license at a planned Wantagh entertainment facility, an appeal of the decision is in the works.

Commack resident Billy Dean, who owns in North Bellmore, acquired 3500 Sunrise Hwy two years ago for $950,000 and had planned to open what he in a May 18 zoning board hearing as an establishment with “a Las Vegas style feel”, which would include jugglers, knife throwers and dancers. The Hempstead BZA granted Dean a cabaret license last year for the 3500 Sunrise Hwy. property but then in March decided to schedule a due to vocal that mounted against the development as well as a belief that not enough people were notified of the original hearing. Late Wednesday evening, the Hempstead BZA rejected Dean’s plans, which many community residents feared would include operating a business with adult entertainment in their neighborhood.

Dean’ attorney William Cohn said he plans to file an appeal next week. “There insufficient evidence in the record to support the board’s conclusion about the  decision being changed from granted to denied,” said Cohn.

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At a Thursday morning news conference attended by town leaders and other elected officials and neighbors who fought Dean’s application, Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray offered her full support during the appeal process. Murray, along with other town leaders incuding Town Councilwoman Anie Cullin,R-Freeport, and Councilman Gary Hudes, R-Levittown, had urged the BZA to hold the rehearing of Dean's application.

“We are going to use every legal resource we have, and that is very significant, to defend this Board of Appeals decision," said Murray at the news conference held across the street from 3500 Sunrise Hwy.  

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Dean had indicated in the original BZA hearing in April 2010 that he was planning to operate a similar business model to his North Bellmore establishment, which was opened in the late 1990’s and is advertised on its website as “Long Island's Number 1 Strip Club." At the May 18 rehearing, Dean said he has spent in excess of $188,000 on repairs and alterations to the building and planned to spend at least another $100,000 before the building’s completion. The North Bellmore strip club owner also said he bought the adjacent house located behind 3500 Sunrise Highway to be used as an office for the new business.

The Hempstead BZA has a policy to not to discuss its reasons for rejecting an application. Some of the key issues raised by local residents at the May 18 hearing were traffic and parking concerns and whether a cabaret permit should be granted when there are homes within 500 feet of the proposed business.

“This is not the kind of environment we want kids exposed to,” said Donald Shortel, who lives on Park Avenue in Wantagh very close to 3500 Sunrise Hwy.

The leading voice behind the opposition to Dean’s planned business was Wantagh resident Kevin Milano, who organized several rallies in front of 3500 Sunrise Hwy. this year.

“It was a true effort on the part of our communities that made this victory possible,” said Milano. "I can't tell you how happy I am with this decision."


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