Lamar Advertising agreed late this afternoon to temporarily stop construction of a controversial Downtown billboard, and to submit its plan for the placard to the city Planning Commission for its review.

The agreement, which came after a 2 1/2-hour, closed-door negotiation in the chambers of Common Pleas President Judge Joseph James, was hailed as "a victory for the rule of law" by Hugh McGough, attorney for four Pittsburgh City Council members who have appealed the billboard permit.

Lamar also agreed to put on hold a civil suit against five council members who have taken actions to challenge the billboard permit. That lawsuit was briefly transferred to federal court, was pared down, and now will be put on ice in state court.

There was no deadline placed on Lamar to file with the Planning Commission. Judge James ordered that issues of the appropriateness of the billboard permit be heard by the separate Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Lamar attorneys had no comment afterward.

"I would view it as an acknowledgement that they may have skipped a process," said Patricia McGrail, attorney for one council member, Patrick Dowd, who filed an appeal as a private individual, rather than a public official.

The billboard permit was appealed by Council President Doug Shields and members William Peduto, Bruce Kraus, Ricky Burgess and Mr. Dowd.

The case has been further complicated by news that Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford, who shepherded the billboard proposal through the city system, took gifts from a Lamar executive. Mr. Ford is now on paid leave pending a State Ethics Commission investigation.

More details in tomorrow's Pitsburgh Post-Gazette.