Except as otherwise provided in this article, the lawfully existing use of land or buildings existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter may be continued, although such uses do not conform to the standards specified in this chapter for the zone in which such land or building is located. However, no land shall be subdivided so as to create a nonconforming lot, use, building or other structure, nor shall a nonconforming lot, use, building or other structure be made more nonconforming than it was at the first date of adoption of this chapter.
Where no building or structure is involved, the lawfully existing nonconforming use of land may be continued; provided, however, that no such nonconforming use shall be enlarged or increased, nor shall it be extended to occupy a greater area of land than that occupied by such use at the time of the first adoption of this chapter, unless specifically allowed by other provisions in this chapter, nor shall any such nonconforming use be moved in whole or in part to any other portion of the lot or parcel of land occupied by such nonconforming use at the time of the adoption of this chapter; provided, further, that if such nonconforming use of land or any portion thereof ceases for any reasons for any continuous period of more than two years, or is changed to a conforming use, any future use of the land shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. No nonconforming use of land shall be changed to another nonconforming use.
A. 
A building or structure, or use thereof, which does not conform to the zoning regulations for the district in which it is situated:
(1) 
Shall not be expanded or enlarged, unless the proposal is otherwise zoning compliant, without an area variance.
(2) 
Shall not be changed from one nonconforming use to another nonconforming use.
(3) 
Shall not increase or expand the nonconformity of the building or use.
B. 
In order not to unnecessarily deprive anyone of value, the following will be allowed:
(1) 
The maintenance and repair of a nonconforming structure or use.
(2) 
The replacement of a nonconforming use on the same building footprint if it is damaged by fire or natural disaster, upon approval of the Board of Appeals.
(3) 
The rebuilding or modernization of nonconforming use if not expanding by volume or change use.
No permit shall be issued that will result in the nonconformity or the increase of any existing nonconformity of any dimensional requirement as outlined in Schedule II of Article IV of this chapter.[1] No use or structure with nonconformity of any dimension shall be expanded in any direction, vertically or horizontally. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the use of any lot or the erection of a building or other structure on any lot which does not conform to the minimum area, shape or frontage requirements of this chapter, as of the first date of adoption of this section, provided that all other requirements of this chapter have been met and the owner of such lot does not own sufficient contiguous land within the Town of Lake George to make a nonconforming lot more nearly a conforming lot.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said schedule is included as an attachment to this chapter.
If a nonconforming use is discontinued for a period of 24 consecutive months, further use of the property shall conform to this chapter or be subject to review by the Zoning Board of Appeals.