All lawful uses of land or of a building, sign,
or other structure existing on the effective date of this chapter
may be continued, altered, restored, reconstructed, changed, sold,
or maintained even though such use may not conform to the use, height,
area, yard, and other regulations of the district in which it is located,
provided such nonconforming conditions shall comply with the following.
The Zoning Officer shall identify and register
all of the premises occupied by a lawful nonconforming use or building
existing at the effective date of this chapter and issue a certificate
of nonconformance which shall be for the purpose of insuring to the
owner the right to continue a nonconforming building or use.
Repairs and structural alterations may be made
to a nonconforming building or a building occupied by a nonconforming
use, provided such alterations and repairs conform with regulations
set forth in this chapter and all other applicable codes and ordinances
adopted by the Township.
A nonconforming building or use which is damaged
by fire, explosion, windstorm or other natural or criminal acts, may
be reconstructed and used for the same purposes, provided that:
A. The reconstruction and/or restoration of the building
is commenced within one year from the date of occurrence of the damage
and is carried to completion without undue delay, and
B. The reconstructed building or occupied area does not
exceed the height, area, and volume of the original structure and
occupied use.
If a nonconforming use of land or building ceases
operations for a continuous period of more than 18 months, then such
use and any subsequent use or building shall conform to the regulations
of this chapter.
[Amended 12-2-2003 by Ord. No. 51]
Signs in existence at the effective date of this chapter or amendments thereto, may be continued, subject to the regulations contained in Article
XII and Article
XIII herein.