Except as herein specified, the use of any building
or land otherwise lawfully existing prior to November 1, 1973, may
be continued although such use or structure does not conform to the
permitted use or dimensional provisions of this chapter.
Whenever a nonconforming use or structure has
been discontinued or is inactive for a period of one year or more,
such use or structure may not, thereafter, be reestablished and any
future use or structure shall be in conformity with the provisions
of this chapter.
[Added 3-9-2001 by Ord. No. 93-00]
Any existing portion of a paved driveway or
paved sidewalk within any street right-of-way which is determined
by the Town to be restricting street or property water drainage may
be removed by the Town, after proper notification of the property
owner, to facilitate adequate drainage.
[Amended 4-17-1998 by Ord. No. 74-98; 8-13-2004 by Ord. No.
127-04]
A. Accidental destruction. A building or structure of nonconforming dimension or use which is 50% or more destroyed by fire, explosion or act of God, as determined by the Code Enforcement Constable, or Town Manager, or, if with a lesser percentage of destruction, condemned by the State Fire Marshal, may be rebuilt only if the rebuilt structure conforms to all the dimensional requirements of Articles
X,
XI,
XII,
XIII and
XIV; provided, however, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any single-family residence legally constructed or having a building permit issued prior to March 12, 2004, which was nonconforming with regard to Subsections
G ("Maximum floor-to-area ratio"), H ("Maximum livable area ratio"), I ("Maximum building area"), and/or K ("Maximum number of kitchens") of §
145-35 ("R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District") may (subject to any controlling federal flood insurance requirements) be reconstructed or restored to the same size, dimensions, area(s) and number of kitchens as existed prior to such accidental destruction if such reconstruction commences within 120 days and is completed within 365 days from the date of commencing the reconstruction. The burden shall be on the applicant to establish the existence of such previously existing nonconformity.
[Amended 6-23-2016 by Ord. No. 181-16]
B. Intentional destruction. Except for repairs as provided in §
145-17 above, where any building or structure (or any portion thereof) which is nonconforming in dimension or use is intentionally destroyed, razed, or dismantled, such building or structure (or the nonconforming portion thereof) shall not be rebuilt or reconstructed except in conformity with all of the terms and conditions of this chapter.