Ridgewood residents win final legal victory over proposed Route 17 billboard

The planned 40-foot digital billboard at 500 Route 17 South in Ridgewood will not be built. Village attorney Bruce E. Whitaker confirmed in an October 29 letter to Mayor Paul Vagianos that Outfront Media LLC's case against the Zoning Board of Adjustment was dismissed with prejudice in Bergen County Superior Court. The dismissal prevents the company from filing the same lawsuit again.

Outfront Media applied for the sign in April 2021. The proposal called for a double-sided LED structure with each face measuring approximately 10.5 feet tall and nearly 36 feet wide. Neighbors and property owners opposed the project, citing concerns about traffic safety, visibility, and the visual impact on the historic Zabriskie-Schedler property across the street.

The developer argued that its narrow-view technology would limit visibility to highway motorists. The company also offered landscaping to shield the sign from nearby properties. The zoning board held 11 public hearings before denying the application on July 23, 2024. The board found the billboard was prohibited by the property's zoning designation and exceeded the area's 30-foot height limit without necessary variances.

Outfront Media sued on January 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. Court records show the case remained active through 2026, with multiple conferences postponed. A stipulation of settlement was filed on October 29, and a conference scheduled for that day was canceled. The Ridgewood Village Manager's Office announced the outcome on social media.