Bedford planning commission recommends approval of tattoo shop SUP for 1745 Airport Freeway

The Bedford Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a specific use permit allowing a tattoo and body‑piercing studio at 1745 Airport Freeway (Bedford Commons) and will forward the item, SUP25‑2, to the City Council for final consideration.

The applicant, Mitchell D'Souza of Virtuoso Tattoo / Virtuoso Studios LLC, told commissioners the proposed studio would occupy a suite of a little over 1,000 square feet in the Bedford Commons shopping center and operate Monday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. D'Souza said he plans to relocate his Hurst studio to Bedford and make the new site his sole location within about 90 days.

Wes, a staff member who presented the staff report, said the property is within the Bedford Commons Planned Unit Development and the highway mixed‑use character zone. Wes told the commission staff contacted six adjoining property owners and received no responses in favor or opposed. He also said the comprehensive plan’s future land use map identifies the site as “focused commercial” and that, based on the plan and Bedford Commons’ character, "staff finds that a tattoo parlor would not be best suited to this location," but noted the commission could add conditions if it found the use compatible.

In public comment, D'Souza described Virtuoso’s 16 years of operation in Hurst, asserted the business emphasizes community arts programming and safety practices, and said Virtuoso has a customer database of roughly 100,000 people collected over the last decade. He estimated typical weekday patronage at five to 10 clients per day, with larger weekend or event crowds at times, and said about 25% of his revenue comes from ancillary art and design services (t‑shirts, logo and signage design).

Commission discussion centered on whether the studio would complement existing Bedford Commons businesses and help fill vacant retail space versus whether it fitted the long‑term vision in the comprehensive plan for the corridor. Commissioners cited the center’s existing restaurants, bars, axe‑throwing and martial‑arts tenants and noted the potential for cross‑traffic benefiting other businesses. Other commissioners reiterated the comprehensive plan goals but said practical considerations — including empty storefronts and the types of businesses already operating in the center — made the proposed use acceptable.

After closing the public hearing at 6:21 p.m., the commission made and seconded a motion to recommend approval of SUP25‑2. The motion passed by a unanimous vote of members present; the commission chair said the item will be forwarded to the City Council for their review and final vote, with scheduling to be determined.

Votes at a glance: the commission also approved the February 13, 2025 minutes (motion approved), and elected Commissioner Tom Jacobson as vice chair by acclamation. The meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m.

The commission’s favorable recommendation to council does not enact the permit; City Council will consider SUP25‑2 and may adopt, modify with conditions, or deny it.