Bedford Planning Board Tables Heaven's Gas LED Sign, Approves Zoning Code Overhaul

BEDFORD — June 15, 2026 — Bedford Planning Board tables Heaven's Gas Station LED sign request over light and size concerns. The board voted unanimously at its June 15 meeting to continue the conditional use permit application of INQ Enterprise LLC and sign consultant Heather Dutko — seeking to upgrade the manual pricing board at 381 Boynton Street to an electronic LED unit — to the July 13 meeting, asking the applicant to return with a photometric plan, a demonstration of 12-inch rather than 16-inch numerals, and white-only coloring. Chair Hal Newberry called for removal of the ATM designation from the sign, saying "less sign is better" given the structure's nonconforming position in or on the edge of the public right-of-way. Neighbor Scott Close testified that comparable LED gas signs project light nearly three-quarters of a mile and warned the change would extend existing light pollution far into the surrounding residential area. In separate action, the board unanimously approved a broad package of amendments to its land development control regulations, including a new state-mandated cap of one parking space per unit for multi-family housing, extension of subdivision vesting periods from five to seven years, and a shift to fully electronic plan submittals.