Newtown’s Planning & Zoning Commission approved a number of amendments to its regulations on mobile food trucks at its July 20 meeting, after several months of back-and-forth discussions.

The amendments, according to Land Use Director Rob Sibley, create a new zoning term — “mobile food establishments” — to align with language used by the Newtown Health District, as well as with the state’s definition.

“The definition was key,” said Sibley. “In our regulations it comes up multiple times in the sections for brew pubs, farmer’s markets, distilleries, and vineyards. Having the same word over and over helps all the sections become easier to understand.”

The text amendment is not concerning the permitting process for mobile food establishments to operate in town, which would require a change in ordinance by the Legislative Council. It does apply to the permitting process for allowing mobile food establishments to attend events.

The regulation amendments also change how many mobile food establishments could be at brew pubs (three per day), distilleries (three per day), farmer’s markets (two per day), and events by nonprofits (12 per day).

The temporary event permits require the event to have adequate parking for the estimated attendance.

“This helps everyone so they know what needs to happen, so everything can happen in a safe environment,” said Sibley.

In other zoning action, the commission approved an application that would allow a proposed self-storage facility to have long-term parking of non-commercial vehicles on the property.

The usage of 12 Commerce Drive has already been approved for self-storage, but the additional approval would allow the property, the site of the old TUV building, to park cars for long-term storage. No mobile homes, boats, or things like tractor trailers will be allowed to be stored on the property.

Developer Alan Benaim of Blue Rock Development Group, LLC, estimated that the facility would draw 20 trips per day, or roughly two trips per hour. It would only have one part-time employee who will come to the facility two or three times per week.

The building will have six loading spaces, which Benaim said is “four more than we need” and two extra parking spaces.

For vehicle storage, there will be 42 10 foot by 20 foot parking spaces. The drive is 20 feet wide, two way, and a gate at the entrance will block the view of most of the facility from the street, because of the driveway’s downward slope, according to Benaim.

The commission approved the application unanimously.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.