RSS 2.0 FeedOctober 13, 2011, Wantagh Seaford Citizen
Parking an issue at Billy Dean’s, say neighbors
Proposed restaurant granted off-street parking permit.
At first there was jubilation when neighbors on Oakland Avenue in Wantagh learned that Green 2009 Inc, better known as Billy Dean’s, was denied a cabaret license. But a week later residents learned that Billy Dean’s was granted an off-street parking variance.
“This is mind boggling to me,” said resident Kevin Milano. “We are very disappointed to learn Billy Dean’s was given a variance for parking. Now what will happen?”
Neighbors fear that if Mr. Dean is allowed to open his facility he will find a way to provide entertainment. Mr. Dean has testified that it was his intention to open a Las Vegas-style cabaret at 3500 Sunrise Highway. But neighbors believe it will be a “strip club.” They point to Billy Dean’s other establishment in North Bellmore that offers scantily dressed dancers and hot oil wrestling. Mr. Dean has denied these intentions.
Furthermore, Mr. Dean’s attorney William Cohn told The Citizen he would be filing an appeal, called an Article 78, in court by October 12 to challenge the Town of Hempstead’s zoning Board of Appeals decision.
“We made a good case [about] the parking,” said Mr. Milano. “I think this needs to be addressed again.”
The application of Green 2009 Inc. was heard before the zoning board on May 18 and included arguments by attorney Chris Benes of Gold, Stewart & Benes, who represented the neighbors.
He pointed to problems with the number of off-street parking spaces and the hazards of crossing Sunrise Highway in order to park a vehicle in the public lot across the street.
Eric Schneider of Schneider Engineering provided expert testimony. He testified that although there are “13 spaces on site, which is about half of what the town requires, two are not useable due to configuration [of the lot].”
Mr. Schneider said that the cabaret/restaurant would be using “eight parking spaces just for employees, leaving only three spaces for patrons.” He figured that each parking space would equal “three occupants. If there are 75 people [in Billy Dean’s], you would need 25 parking spaces.”
Additionally, Mr. Schneider pointed to the two-hour parking limit on Sunrise Highway and no parking on Oakland Avenue or Locust Avenue. “If the lot is full,” said Mr. Schneider, “cars would have to back out onto Sunrise Highway, making for a dangerous situation.”
But Mr. Cohn countered that the facility would be open in the evenings when there is less traffic. He also pointed to the municipal lot located on the other side of Sunrise Highway. He also said the site had always been used for a restaurant or bar.
Christian Peterkin, who lives on Oakland Avenue two houses behind the Billy Dean’s site, said, “When this place has been a bar we’ve had problems – parking on the streets and a number of encounters with disorderly customers that sometimes ended in my calling the police.”
