Vecchia Osteria, a well-loved Italian spot in Newtown, is looking to grow its footprint pending approval from the local zoning board, writes Jeff Werner for the Patch.

The restaurant, celebrated for its Old World atmosphere and classic Italian cuisine, intends to request zoning relief to take over the next-door space at the Newtown Depot Shopping Center.

Earlier last month, land development attorney Ed Murphy explained to the Newtown Township Planning Commission that the restaurant plans to use the 500-square-foot addition as event space, a change that would add an extra 24 seats for bigger functions and social events.

Typically, expanding would require a parking variance, but Murphy noted that the addition will improve the eatery’s parking situation, as the new space provides 19 dedicated parking spaces, which exceeds the zoning requirement for the proposed 24 new seats.

“Essentially, it will reduce the extent of prior zoning relief that created a deficiency in the parking for which relief was granted,” said Murphy.

Following Murphy’s short presentation, the planning commission officially endorsed the zoning relief and suggested that the board of supervisors take no further action regarding the restaurant’s request for expansion.

Read more about Vecchia Osteria in Newtown and the restaurant’s plan to expand following zoning approval in the Patch.

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