[Ord. 294, 11/26/2007, § 27-901]
The Zoning Officer shall, upon adoption of this chapter or amendment
thereof, identify and register all nonconforming uses and structures
when possible.
[Ord. 294, 11/26/2007, § 27-902]
The lawful use of a building or structure, or the lawful use
of any land as existing and lawful at the time of the enactment of
this chapter, or in the case of an amendment to this chapter, then
at the time of such amendment, may be continued except as hereinafter
provided, although such use does not conform to the provisions of
this chapter or subsequent amendments.
[Ord. 294, 11/26/2007, § 27-903]
1. Nonconforming structures may be altered, reconstructed, or enlarged, provided that such alteration, reconstruction, or enlargement does not increase the extent of the nonconformity existing on the effective date of this chapter. In the case of a nonconforming structure which is used by a nonconforming use, such alteration, extension, or enlargement shall also meet the requirements of Subsection
3 of this section.
2. Nonconforming lots are subject to the applicable provisions of §
27-701, Subsection 2B, "Exceptions to Minimum Lot Size," and §
27-701, Subsection 3B, "Exceptions to Minimum Lot Width."
3. Nonconforming uses shall not be altered, reconstructed, extended
or enlarged, except in accordance with the following provisions:
A. Such alterations, reconstruction, extension, or enlargement shall
be only upon the same lot as in existence at the date the use became
nonconforming, and shall be prohibited from encroaching on another
parcel or land subsequently added to the original parcel.
B. Any increase in volume or area shall not exceed an aggregate of more than 50% of the volume or area existent at the date the use became nonconforming, during the life of the nonconformity, and in any event shall be permitted only by special exception under the provisions of Part
12, "Zoning Hearing Board." Structures or land uses that have reached their maximum expansion allowance under previous chapters are not eligible for any increase in volume or area under this chapter.
C. All other uses or structures that do not conform with the other requirements
of this chapter and the district in which it is located, may not be
extended more than 100% in floor area, land area, or building volume.
Such extension shall be permitted only by special exception.
[Ord. 294, 11/26/2007, § 27-904]
A nonconforming building, or any building containing a nonconforming
use less than 75% destroyed by fire, explosion, flood or other phenomenon,
or legally condemned, may be reconstructed and used for the same nonconforming
use, provided that reconstruction of the building shall be commenced
within one year and completed within two years from the date the building
was destroyed or condemned. No further expansion of the original nonconforming
use will be permitted.
[Ord. 294, 11/26/2007, § 27-905]
It is the intent of this section to insure that the level of nonconformity is not increased when a nonconforming use is transferred or sold. Whenever a lot, which is nonconforming by virtue of use, except agricultural land or residential uses, is transferred or sold to a new owner, a previously nonconforming use may be continued by the new owner after review by the Borough Council. The landowner shall prove that the level of nonconformance will not be increased or changed. Should the landowner propose any changes or alterations to the nonconforming use, the Borough Council may impose conditions regarding layout, circulation, and performance it deems necessary to insure that the change or alteration is in the best interest of the Borough, the convenience of the community, and the public welfare. The landowner may appeal such conditions to the Zoning Hearing Board subject to the provisions of Part
13 of this chapter.
[Ord. 294, 11/26/2007, § 27-906]
If a nonconforming use of a building or land is abandoned for
a continuous period of one year, subsequent use of such building or
land shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. For
the purposes of this chapter, abandonment shall commence when the
nonconforming use ceases.
[Ord. 294, 11/26/2007, § 27-907]
1. Once changed to a conforming use, no structure or land shall be permitted
to revert to a nonconforming use. A nonconforming use may be changed
to another nonconforming use only under all of the following conditions:
A. Such change shall be permitted only as a special exception by the
Zoning Hearing Board.
B. The applicant shall show that a nonconforming use cannot reasonably
be changed to a permitted use.
C. The applicant shall show that the proposed change will be less objectionable
in external effects than the existing nonconforming use, with respect
to:
(1)
Traffic generation and congestion including truck, passenger
car, and pedestrian traffic.
(2)
Noise, smoke, dust, fumes, vapors, gases, heat, odor, glare
or vibration.
(3)
Storage and waste disposal.