the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A standing-room-only crowd filled the courtroom at the Ridgewood Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on April 23, 2024, as residents voiced overwhelming opposition to a proposed 40-foot electronic billboard at 500 Route 17 South.
The application, submitted by Outfront Media LLC, drew 33 speakers, all strongly against the project. No one spoke in favor. Residents cited safety concerns, historic preservation, light pollution, and fears of changing the suburban character of the community, but the planning board presson.
Residents Speak Out Against Billboard
Longtime Ridgewood residents, including Linda Marticek, who has lived in town for 79 years, and Madeline “Lynne” Canzani, who has lived there for 50 years, say the billboard would disrupt their peaceful neighborhood. The proposed site sits just feet away from the historic Old Paramus Reformed Church, an active cemetery, and homes along the Route 17 corridor.
“The significance and the meaning of them will be greatly diminished by having this huge lit-up behemoth,” Marticek told the board.
Canzani added, “They’re trying to reach somebody driving down Route 17 at 55 miles an hour. You really think that that’s a great place to put up messages?”
Ridgewood’s Master Plan at Odds with Billboard
Ridgewood officials argue the billboard directly conflicts with the town’s Master Plan, which calls for protecting scenic views and restricting developments “out of scale” with the surrounding environment. The plan specifically lists billboards as visual intrusions that should be avoided near historic and sensitive areas.
Conflict of interest issues
Gail Price the former Ridgewood planning Board attorney was representing Outfront Media during a period of time were she and her spouse Ridgewood Planning Board chairman Richard Brooks received a loan on very generous terms from Mayor Paul Vaginios for $47,000 .
Legal Battle with Outfront Media
Outfront Media, which already has 24 billboard-related lawsuits in New Jersey, filed suit against Ridgewood in January 2024 after its application was denied. The company claims Ridgewood acted in an “arbitrary and unreasonable” manner and failed to follow proper legal procedures.
Outfront also argues the billboard would not distract drivers and could benefit local businesses. Ridgewood has rejected those claims, standing by its denial.
“David vs. Goliath” Fight Continues
For residents like Marticek and Canzani, the fight is about more than just one billboard. It’s about preserving the character, safety, and history of Ridgewood.
“In my personal opinion, they’re like spoiled children now,” Marticek said of Outfront.
“They’re basically just doing a David and Goliath thing. We’re bigger than you. We have deeper pockets than you,” added Canzani.
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who owns the property that this contraption would be placed upon
Some family trust that rents it put yo Tire and Wheel co. Multi use is not currently allowed.
Vagianos good pal Gail Price is behind this billboard project. Always on the wrong side of Ridgewood projects. Birds of a feather.
we can thank the planning board’s consultants for this. Our ordinance is challengeable – written poorly and possibly illegally. The applicant will win this appeal, and this will be erected. Awful.
“written poorly and possibly illegally.”
And possibly that way on purpose………………
not in this case. this looks like pure incompetence.