The lawful use of any land or building existing at the time
of the adoption of this Zoning Chapter may be continued, although
such building or use does not conform to the provisions of this Zoning
Chapter except as hereinafter provided.
No building permit shall be issued, no nonconforming use or
building shall hereafter be extended or enlarged and no abandonment
time period extended, except following 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 Zoning Chapter.
A nonconforming building, damaged by any cause, may be restored,
repaired or reconstructed as a nonconforming building, provided that
the extent of a 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
take place 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 Zoning Chapter takes
effect; provided, however, that the 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.