East Lyme — The Zoning Commission unanimously voted Thursday to revise its regulations, paving the way for a Ledyard couple to apply to open up a small taproom brewery in downtown Niantic.

The new regulations approved Thursday would allow the operation of a taproom brewery in a specific commercial zone in town.

Todd Sakowski of Ledyard had requested the revised zoning laws as part of his plan to open up a taproom brewery downtown with his wife, Jennifer.

The establishment, which will be called Niantic Public House and Brewery, tentatively would be located at 243 Main St., near The Spice Club.

Thursday's decision only concerned the zoning laws, and Sakowski would next bring an application with specific details to the commission for the brewery. Sakowski has said he also would apply for federal and state licenses.

In recapping the business plan presented at the June 24 public hearing, the commission said the proposed taproom brewery would sell some snacks on site and also allow customers to bring their own food or order in meals from nearby eateries. The business plans to sell craft beer for $5.50 to $8 a pint.

The new regulations approved Thursday are not townwide but apply to a specific commercial zone, called a CB zone, intended for the town's "main commercial enterprises."

The regulations define a taproom brewery as "an establishment whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of malt beverages made from the fermentation of malt with or without cereal grains or other fermentable sugars or hops via retail sales through a taproom for on and off site consumption."

Town law stipulates that a brewery can produce no more than 155,000 gallons per year. At least half of all beer produced must be sold on site at the taproom.

The Zoning Commission also said that at least half of the volume of the taproom's annual sales must be manufactured on site.

On Thursday, some commission members raised concerns regarding a lack of food service at the establishment.

But they pointed out that breweries are now in towns across Connecticut, following a recent state law to allow their operation.

They also said there would be ways for the commission to review how the business is operated — such as hours of operation — during the next application step.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich