North Bellmore School District, 'strip club' at odds

The North Bellmore Union Free School District is opposed to the permit renewal application of Billy Dean’s Showtime Café — contrary to what cafe co-owner Rori Gordon said at a public hearing on Wednesday.

Gordon testified at the Hempstead Town Board of Appeals hearing that there was no objection to the application from the nearby elementary school. Gordon and Dean’s company, Look Entertainment Ltd., is seeking to renew a cabaret permit and off-street parking variance needed to operate their North Bellmore establishment.

But Toni Cincotta, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, said yesterday that the district sent an objection letter last Friday to the appeals board.

“Such an establishment has no place in such a close proximity to the community’s young children,” the district’s attorney, Carol A. Melnick, of Garden City, said in the letter the appeals board received Tuesday. “Billy Dean’s cabaret permit should be rescinded because it is unreasonably near the Newbridge Road Elementary School. Parents and teachers should not have to answer questions from young children regarding the activities that take place at Billy Dean’s.”

Dean said Wednesday he uses the term “strip club” for online marketing purposes. He said performers at the club are not topless or nude.

The appeals board granted the cabaret a five-year permit in 1993, then renewed it several times. The club’s current permit expired on March 28.

The appeals board said yesterday it received about 87 comments in favor and 145 comments opposed to the application.

In a letter from Hempstead Town Board members to residents dated March 27, the board said independent undercover investigations by town building department inspectors and law enforcement officials did not uncover any violations of the law at the site. The board of appeals reserved its decision and said it will notify interested parties of its decision by mail.