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Planning board approves site‑plan amendment to convert shop at 13 South River Road to veterinary clinic with conditions
Summary
The Bedford Planning Board granted final approval to convert 1,261 square feet at 13 South River Road from a hair salon to a veterinary clinic, approving five regulatory waivers and adding conditions including a license agreement for pavement in the town right‑of‑way and prohibition on overnight boarding.
The Bedford Planning Board voted to approve a site plan amendment allowing a change of use at 13 South River Road — converting roughly 1,261 square feet of a former hair salon to a veterinary clinic operated by Darbster Foundation / Poppy’s Place LLC.
George Chadwick of Bedford Design, representing the applicant, said the proposal makes no major exterior changes beyond new siding, a new awning color and a screened dumpster pad. He asked the board for five waivers covering dumpster placement, lighting documentation, landscape plan detail, elevation drawings and architectural standards. Chadwick described the site as compact with minimal available space for additional landscaping and said the applicant plans only limited exterior work.
Planning staff asked for changes to remove pavement encroaching into the town right‑of‑way or, alternatively, a license agreement with the town so the pavement could remain. The applicant agreed to discuss angled‑parking options with staff and, if angled stalls were not feasible without losing spaces, to pursue a license agreement. The board added a condition that the applicant either redesign the lot to eliminate public‑right‑of‑way pavement or secure a town license for it.
The board approved all five waiver requests unanimously and granted final site‑plan approval with conditions that included: recordation of a license agreement (or redesign), a screened dumpster pad, updated striping, and that no animals be sheltered outdoors overnight and no overnight boarding of animals be allowed at the facility. The motion approving the plan included an explicit condition to remove condition 5 from the staff memo and instead require a license agreement if the angled‑parking layout could not be achieved.
Board members clarified that monitoring wells on the property — relics of earlier site use — should be evaluated and, if inactive or unnecessary, closed, and asked the applicant to confirm that the building changes will not increase lighting or traffic impacts on nearby residences. Planning director Becky Hebert said town staff will confirm compliance with those conditions before the plan is signed.
The applicant’s representative said he would work with staff to finalize angled‑parking options and the dumpster pad design and will return any required documentation for the plan signature.
