Planning board grants sign waivers for Genesis dealership and Corpet storefront

The Town of Bedford Planning Board on March 9 granted two sign‑waiver requests for properties in the Performance Zone on South River Road.

The board voted to allow Harvey Signs, on behalf of TT of Willow LLC, to install up to 56.25 square feet of wall‑mounted signage for the Genesis dealership at 213 South River Road. The applicant said removing the "of Manchester" text would let the letters be larger and improve visibility because the dealership is set back and lower than the road. The motion to grant the waiver was made by Chris Bandazian and seconded by Logan Johnson; the board approved the motion and incorporated findings into the meeting minutes.

In a separate application, SunVent/Sundance Sign—representing Corpet and tenant Poppy's Place—asked to place a 32‑square‑foot bracketed sign on a lower pedestrian‑overhang roof at 13 South River Road. Applicant representative Mike Larys told the board that limited wall space and parked vehicles blocking wall signs made a low‑roof bracketed sign the most feasible option. "The proposed request to install a bracketed sign on the pedestrian overhang roof would not diminish the goals of the performance zone, but would enhance it," Larys said during the presentation.

Board members probed projection above the eave and requested side/profile drawings to confirm the sign would not significantly exceed the shown elevation. In discussion the board asked the applicants to keep the as‑built sign very close to the submitted illustration; the motion approving the roof sign included the board's expectation that the sign "not break the roof line" as presented.

Why it matters: both waivers change the standard signage allowances in the performance zone and set precedent for how the board will weigh visibility and design in constrained locations along South River Road. Staff confirmed abutters were notified and recommended acceptance of the applications as complete.

What’s next: Applicants will proceed with building/installation permits under the standard permitting process, subject to any conditions in the decisions and the usual building‑permit review.