The lawful use of any land or building existing
at the time of the adoption of this chapter may be continued, although
such building or use does not conform to the provisions of this chapter
except as hereinafter noted.
No zoning permit shall be issued, no nonconforming
use or building shall hereafter be extended or enlarged and no abandonment
time period extended, except following written authorization by the
Zoning Board of Appeals as a special extension.
Any nonconforming use which lies abandoned or
discontinued for a period of six consecutive months shall not be permitted
to be reestablished as a nonconforming use, and any future use of
the property shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
A nonconforming building, damaged by any cause,
may be restored, repaired or reconstructed as a nonconforming building,
provided that the extent of the nonconformity is not increased. Restoration,
repair or reconstruction of a nonconforming building shall be subject
to the granting of a special extension by the Zoning Board of Appeals,
which shall make a finding of the extent to which the building may
be made conforming through repair or reconstruction. The Zoning Board
of Appeals may grant a special extension subject to the elimination
or reduction of the extent of any or all nonconformities involving
the damaged portion of the building. Such repair or restoration shall
be completed within one year from the time of such damage or destruction
and the use at the time of such damage or destruction resumed within
the same year.
Nothing in this article shall prohibit the completion
of any lawful structure for which the excavation has been prepared
and the foundation walls constructed at the date this chapter takes
effect; provided, however, that construction must be completed within
a period of one year from that date.
Should any nonconforming structure be moved
for any reason for any distance whatever, it shall thereafter conform
to the regulations for the district in which it is located after it
is moved. If any building in which any nonconforming use is conducted
is hereafter removed, the subsequent use of the land on which such
building was located and the subsequent use of any building erected
thereon shall conform to the regulations of the district.
A nonconforming structure or use cannot be changed
to another nonconforming structure or use.
