Digital Billboard Gets the Okay from Heights Zoning Board

The Hasbrouck Heights Zoning Board gave Dougan Outdoor Media the greenlight to construct a digital LED billboard on the northbound side of Route 17.

This was the applicant's second attempt to get approval to construct the billboard at this site which borders a gas station and a car wash on the east side of the highway.

The new plans call for the demolition of the existing vacant 2-story building which was found to be in poor condition. The only structure at the site will be the billboard itself surrounded by a green landscape.

Zoning board members were in agreement that the removal of the building was a benefit to the town.

"Removing that building will be an asset to this town," said John Mazzola adding that the building just doesn't fit the property.

Sean Dougan the property owner and Daniel Lamothe, project engineer cited many issues with the building at this site including insufficient parking. 

"[The billboard] is a better use of that property," said William Kremer, chairman.

Zoning board members questioned the project's lighting designer Robert Newell regarding whether the billboard lighting would have any affect on the neighborhood.

According to Newell the digital billboard is designed to reflect light down to the highway. As for residences who live on the west side of Route 17, Newell said the could likely see the billboard but there would be no glare or light coming off of it.

"It looks like a TV screen from a distance away," he said.

The borough itself may see a benefit in being able to use the billboard to promote some of its community events.

Dougan agreed to post community announcements four times a year, for 3 days before the event, appearing for 8 seconds once an hour.

Advertisements will appear for 8 seconds at at a time and there is no movement in any of the ads themselves and transitons are smooth with no flashing, he testified.

Dougan agreed to the Zoning Board's request to have the site maintained once a month in order to make sure the landscaped area is not neglected.

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