40-Foot Billboard Plan Dropped in Ridgewood After Legal Loss
Outfront Media LLC's case to build a large LED sign on Route 17 was dismissed, ending a five-year dispute over zoning violations.
By Aiko Lombardi ·
A proposed 40-foot digital billboard on Route 17 in Ridgewood will not be built after the company behind the plan lost its legal challenge. Village attorney Bruce E. Whitaker informed Mayor Paul Vagianos on Oct. 29 that Outfront Media LLC's case was dismissed with prejudice in Bergen County Superior Court.
The dispute began in April 2021 when Outfront Media applied to install a double-sided LED sign at 500 Route 17 South. Court documents describe the structure as having two advertising faces, each approximately 10.5 feet tall and nearly 36 feet wide. The plan required variances because the property's zoning designation prohibited such a sign and the design exceeded the local 30-foot height limit.
Neighbors and residents opposed the project, citing concerns about traffic safety, visibility, and the visual impact on the historic Zabriskie-Schedler property across the highway. Outfront Media argued that its narrow view technology would limit visibility to only highway motorists. The company also promised landscaping to shield the sign from nearby properties.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment held 11 public hearings before voting to deny the application on July 23, 2024. Outfront Media sued on Jan. 29, 2025, claiming the board acted arbitrarily and failed to weigh supporting evidence. The company sought to overturn the denial and secure a building permit. Multiple conferences were postponed before a stipulation of settlement was filed Oct. 29, canceling the day's scheduled hearing.
The dismissal with prejudice prevents the company from bringing the same claims to court again. The Ridgewood Village Manager's Office announced the outcome on social media. The 40-foot sign remains a proposal on paper, with no physical structure currently planned for the Route 17 site.
Source: Daily Voice Hackensack
