NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A Newtown Township restaurant known for its Old World charm and authentic Italian cuisine will be asking the township’s zoning hearing board in December for relief to expand its operations.
Vecchia Osteria by Pasquale plans to take over an adjacent storefront at the Newtown Depot Shopping Center, but first, it will need to secure zoning board approval.
Appearing before the Newtown Township Planning Commission this month, land development attorney Ed Murphy said the restaurant plans to convert the 500-square-foot addition into event space for the restaurant. The expansion is expected to add 24 seats to the restaurant for larger events and social gatherings.
Murphy said an expansion would typically require a variance for more parking. But in this case, the expansion will be reducing the restaurant’s parking deficiency, he told the planners.
The newly leased space comes with 19 dedicated parking spots, which is more than enough to cover the zoning requirement for the 24 new seats being proposed by the restaurant.
“Essentially, it will reduce the extent of prior zoning relief that created a deficiency in the parking for which relief was granted,” said Murphy.
The commission members also noted that during the restaurant’s peak evening hours, many of the neighboring businesses in the shopping center are closed, further mitigating any parking issues.
After listening to Murphy’s brief presentation, the planning commission gave its nod to the zoning relief, recommending that the board of supervisors take no action against the zoning request.
The Palino family has owned and operated Vecchia Osteria by Pasquale since 2009 where they have built a reputation for authentic Italian cooking and Old World charm.
The family-owned restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients and family recipes that have been passed down through generations.
“Our staff is like a big family and we take great pride in providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our customers,” says the restaurant’s website. “At Vecchia Osteria, we believe that food is love. Our goal is to make sure that everyone enjoys a delicious meal and feels that love in each bite.“
Dining and Cooking