Bedford council approves specific-use permit for tattoo and piercing shop at 1745 Airport Freeway, 4-3

The Bedford City Council on April 22 approved a specific-use permit to permit a tattoo and body-piercing shop at 1745 Airport Freeway (SUP 25-2), voting 4-3 after a lengthy public hearing and council discussion.

The application, presented by applicant Mitchell Desosa, requests a permit for a roughly 1,000-square-foot suite in the Oaks Bedford edition (Block 1, Lot 1A) within the Bedford Commons Planned Unit Development. Desosa told the council his family-owned shop has operated in Hurst for 13 years and that the business expects three to five employees at the proposed Bedford location. "We believe it will contribute to the city's overall culture and artistic fabric," Desosa said when describing plans to relocate and operate consistent with neighboring businesses.

Development Director Wes Morrison told the council the site is in the Bedford Commons highway mixed-use character zone and that tattoo and body-piercing uses in that area require an SUP. He noted the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a 6-1 vote and that a prior, similar request at the property was denied in 2022. Morrison said the specific proposal does not include exterior site changes and that staff's initial review weighed consistency with the comprehensive plan's place-focused guidance for Bedford Commons.

Council debate centered on two competing policy priorities: strict adherence to the recently adopted comprehensive plan, which the council spent $140,000 to produce and approved earlier in the year, versus attracting and filling commercial tenants in an existing shopping center that includes entertainment and restaurant uses. Several council members urged fidelity to the comprehensive plan's "place-focused" language, arguing the area is intended for dining, entertainment and destination-style retail. Others pointed to the shopping center's existing mix (including an axe-throwing business and restaurants) and said the tattoo shop would be compatible and help activate a long-vacant space.

Councilmember Michelle Dawkins and Mayor Pro Tem Gagliardi described nearby businesses and foot-traffic synergy as supporting approval. Councilmember Donovan Brandon referenced the council's recent unanimous adoption of the comprehensive plan and urged following it. Multiple councilmembers said they found the applicant's presentation persuasive and noted the business's long track record in the region.

Mayor Dan Cogan made the motion to approve the SUP; Councilmember Steve seconded. The motion passed 4-3. The council did not record individual member votes in the public roll call during the meeting; the clerk recorded the outcome as four in favor and three opposed.

The ordinance approving the SUP includes the required site-plan concurrence (the applicant proposed no exterior changes), and staff noted that standard conditions for an SUP will apply, including compliance with life-safety, occupancy and parking rules. Morrison said the property is located between Carter Blood Care and the axe-throwing business in the Bedford Commons shopping center.

Applicant Mitchell Desosa and members of his team who spoke during the hearing — including Ezekiel and Kemp — emphasized community ties and long-term business experience. Desosa described operational details: proposed hours were listed in planning materials as noon to midnight daily (with staff clarifying Sunday hours as noon–8 p.m.), and the shop expects three to five employees on site.

The council's decision is site-specific and does not amend the Bedford Commons PUD or the comprehensive plan. During the hearing, several council members noted ongoing zoning-code work to revisit district boundaries and permitted uses across Bedford Commons; Development Director Wes Morrison said a zoning ordinance rewrite is planned to assess whether character-district boundaries or allowed uses should be adjusted in the future.

The council's approval allows the applicant to pursue building permits and standard licensing steps required for a tattoo/body-piercing business. The ordinance language and the adopted site plan will control the business's permitted operations at 1745 Airport Freeway going forward.

Votes and immediate next steps: the ordinance to adopt SUP 25-2 passed 4-3; staff will follow up with the applicant about permits and any SUP conditions. The item was introduced during new business and concluded with the council vote at the April 22 meeting.