Strip Club Owner's Wantagh Cabaret Application Appeal Postponed

More than a dozen concerned community residents descended to the fourth floor of the Nassau County Supreme Court building in Mineola Wednesday morning expecting to hear 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 establishment last summer. The visit to Mineola was a short one however after they learned shortly before the scheduled 10 a.m. hearing that has been postponed until March 14.

Dean’s attorney, William Cohn, requested the two-week-adjournment to have more time to prepare a reply brief for the appeal. Dean’s suit against the town 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 date.

During the last year, protests have been held in front of 3500 Sunrise Hwy. 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." Billy Dean’s website provides a link with information that describes the Wantagh venue 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.

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.

Around 20 opponents to Dean’s proposed Wantagh entertainment club came to Wednesday’s court hearing including Artie Blaurock, who lives around the corner from 3500 Sunrise Hwy. Blaurock said he isn’t buying that the facility will not operate as a strip club since Billy Dean’s Showtime Café also is not permitted to have topless or nude entertainment.

“I think he’s lying,” Blaurock said.

Nassau County Legis. Dave Denenberg, D-Merrick, spoke to opponents outside the courtroom Wednesday and said he has been getting many calls from concerned residents about the possibility of a strip club moving into their neighborhood.

“There is no doubt that what he is planning to open is an adult cabaret,” said Denenberg, whose 19^th district covers the southern section of Wantagh. “A strip club will diminish their quality of life in the neighborhood.”

Dean’s 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 suit also points out that 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 March 14 appeal hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and is being heard by Judge Antonio Brandveen.