A former Ogdensburg city planner is going into the billboard business in the town of Oswegatchie.

Martin D. Murphy, who was the city’s director of planning and development from 1993 until 2007, was granted permission from the town last week to put up a double-sided billboard with 288-square-foot panels for advertising.

The billboard will be put up on Route 37 on the north side of the westbound lane on land that Mr. Murphy owns. The 330-foot-by-316-foot-by-70-foot parcel is located near the Oswegatchie River on west side of the highway’s overpass above State Street and Route 812, according to Timothy C. Tuttle, the town’s code enforcement officer.

Mr. Murphy, who declined to comment on his billboard proposal, wasn’t present last week for the town planning board’s approval. He was represented by Timothy C. Baker, the former Ogdensburg city engineer.

Mr. Tuttle said the estimated cost of the sign is $35,000.

The proposal, he noted, must still be approved by the state Department of Transportation.

Mr. Murphy is currently administrator for Cortland County.

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