Ridgewood Zoning Board Rejects Controversial Digital Billboard

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Many Ridgewood residents can breathe a sigh of relief, as after months and months of contentious debate, the Ridgewood Zoning Board of Adjustment has finally made a ruling on a proposed controversial digital billboard on Route 17 South, unanimously voting to reject the application. Five of the seven board members were required to vote in favor of the billboard for the application to be approved.

The 40-foot tall, double-sided digital billboard, proposed by Outfront Media LLC., has been the center of controversy in Ridgewood since the application was first submitted, with over 30 residents, some of whom have lived in Ridgewood for 70 years or more, testified before the board during an April meeting. Residents argued that the billboard would increase car accidents, lower property values, disturb residents in the area, corrupt the area's historical significance and that the billboard's ad content couldn't be properly regulated.

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Before the board voted, Village Planner John Barree submitted his report, stating that the billboard was nonconforming with several zoning restrictions — the billboard would exceed the maximum allowed height by 10 feet, for example – but it was up to the board to determine whether the application would be granted a variance.

The board maintained that the application did not sufficiently meet the burden of proof to grant a variance and additionally, as Ridgewood residents have successfully argued, it could have a potentially negative impact on the community.

As each board member voted “no”, residents in attendance exploded into increasingly raucous applause. The two-year battle was over, and the citizens of Ridgewood stood victorious.

Read more Government news from around Ridgewood here:

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• Ridgewood Village Council Recognized by AARP for Service to Seniors
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