Ridgewood Billboard: Legal Fight Ends

Outfront Media LLC can no longer pursue legal challenges regarding a proposed 40-foot digital billboard in Ridgewood. Village attorney Bruce E. Whitaker confirmed the dismissal with prejudice in an Oct. 29 letter to Mayor Paul Vagianos. The legal barrier to the project is now removed, though the physical installation remains unapproved.

The dispute began in April 2021 when Outfront Media applied to place a double-sided LED sign at 500 Route 17 South. Court documents describe the structure as 40 feet tall, with each advertising face measuring approximately 10.5 feet high and nearly 36 feet wide. The proposal required variances because it exceeded the local 30-foot height limit and fell outside the property's existing zoning designation.

Neighbors and residents opposed the plan, citing traffic safety, visibility, and impacts on the historic Zabriskie-Schedler property across the street. Outfront Media countered that its narrow view technology would limit visibility to highway motorists and offered landscaping to shield the sign from nearby homes. The Zoning Board of Adjustment held 11 public hearings before voting to deny the application on July 23, 2024.

The company filed suit on Jan. 29, 2025, arguing the board acted arbitrarily and failed to weigh supporting evidence. The lawsuit sought to overturn the denial and secure a building permit. The case stayed active through 2026, with multiple conferences postponed before a stipulation of settlement was filed Oct. 29. A court conference scheduled for that date was canceled.

The dismissal with prejudice prevents the company from bringing the same claims back to court. The Ridgewood Village Manager's Office announced the outcome on social media. The property at 500 Route 17 South remains subject to its current zoning rules.