Council advances rezoning for proposed 1423 L Street gas station after planning commission approval

The Bedford Common Council advanced a rezoning request from Healey 6 LLC that would allow a gas station at 1423 L Street.

Kevin, a city planning staff member, told the council the property was previously operated as a gas station but was converted to a service business about 12 years ago when underground fuel tanks were removed. The planning commission held a preliminary hearing Jan. 13 and a public hearing Feb. 10 and voted to send the rezoning request to the council with approval.

Councilors reviewed notice and public outreach; Kevin said only one emailed objection had been received from a neighbor, identified in the record as Zach Nagel, who worried about the types of products the store sells and about the site's distance from the junior high and potential traffic congestion. Kevin said the city researched vape-product rules and that "the law regarding vape products does not go into effect until July 1 of 2026."

Council discussion addressed driveway and access changes that would move customer access farther from 15th Street to reduce traffic concerns; staff said a final site plan and coordination with the planning commission would be required if the rezoning and future permit are approved. The council approved first and second passages by voice vote; the second-passage vote produced the same recorded responses and the council scheduled third and final passage at its next monthly meeting. After third passage, the applicant would still need a special exception permit for a fuel operation, which the planning commission must consider.

The action changes the property's zoning from Professional Residential (PR), which does not allow a gas station, to B2 commercial zoning. The planning commission record and city staff comments were the basis for the council's action; no formal protest petitions or recorded legal objections were presented during the council meeting.