The following provisions shall apply to all nonconforming uses:
A. Continuation and change. A nonconforming use may be sold or otherwise
transferred to other owners and may be continued but shall not be
changed in use unless to a conforming use or as otherwise set forth
in this Part 23.
B. Enlargement or expansion. A nonconforming use may be expanded or
enlarged upon approval by the Zoning Hearing Board as a use by special
exception and subject to compliance with the following criteria:
(1)
The extension becomes an attached part of the main structure
and does not utilize additional or adjoining land area other than
the original parcel.
(2)
The extension does not encroach upon the lot area requirements
and the maximum building height and other dimensional requirements
of the zoning district in which the nonconforming use is presently
located.
(3)
The extension is for the purpose of expanding the nonconforming
use in existence at the time of the adoption of this chapter or amendment
thereto which caused the use to become nonconforming.
(4)
Such extension does not result in an increase in total floor
area or lot use area of more than 50% of the total building lot coverage
legally occupied on or before September 9, 1993.
(5)
A nonconforming use may not increase in volume if such expansion
will displace a conforming use.
(6)
The expansion of a nonconforming use shall comply with the setback
dimensions of the zoning district in which it is located.
(7)
Adequate parking can be provided in conformance with this chapter
to serve both the original plus expanded use.
(8)
Such expansion does not present a threat to the health or safety
of the community or its residents.
(9)
This subsection shall not apply to signs.
(10)
A nonconforming use, when expanded, shall also meet the specific
criteria to be applied to particular conditional uses, as listed in
Part 14 hereof, to the extent the use falls within the definition
of any such conditional use.
C. Change of nonconforming use. A nonconforming use shall not be changed unless to a conforming use, except as permitted by approval of the Board of Supervisors as a conditional use in accordance with Part
14 of this chapter, and subject to compliance with the following criteria:
(1)
The proposed use shall be reasonably similar in terms of overall
function or the changed use bears the same three-digit North American
Industrial Classification Number as set forth in the most recent edition
of the North American Industrial Classification System as published
by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics as the existing nonconforming
use.
(2)
The proposed use shall be reasonably similar or have more limited
hours of operation.
(3)
The proposed use shall be reasonably similar or have less trips
generated.
(4)
The proposed use shall be similar or have less overall impact.
(5)
The proposed use shall not add trips, additional outside storage,
noise, or any other adverse impact.
D. Damage and reconstruction.
(1)
Any structure which houses a nonconforming use which is damaged
by fire, flood, explosion or other casualty may be reconstructed and
used as before if such reconstruction is initiated and diligently
pursued within 12 months of such casualty and if the restored structure
has no greater lot coverage and contains no greater cubic content
that before such casualty.
(2)
Where the nonconforming use is a billboard and the associated
billboard structure is demolished by more than 50% of the sign area,
said billboard shall not be reconstructed.
(3)
Abandonment. In the event that any nonconforming use conducted
in a structure or on a lot is abandoned for a period of 12 consecutive
months or longer, such nonconforming use shall be deemed to be abandoned
and shall not be resumed. Once the nonconforming use is abandoned,
the building or structure and/or lot shall not be used except in conformance
with the regulations of the zoning district in which it is located.
The following provisions shall apply to all nonconforming structures,
as defined by this chapter, in all zoning districts:
A. Structural alteration. No such structure may be enlarged or structurally
altered in a way that increases its nonconformity.
B. Damage or destruction. If a nonconforming structure is partially
or completely damaged or destroyed by fire, collapse, explosion or
other disaster, it may be reconstructed or repaired, provided that
the reconstruction and repair activities for the structure commence
within one year of the date that the original structure was damaged
or destroyed and are completed within two years of the date that the
original structure was damaged or destroyed. However, reconstruction
or repair shall not make the structure more nonconforming, in any
respect, than it was prior to damage or destruction.
C. Moving. Should a nonconforming structure be moved for any reason
for any distance, it shall thereafter conform to the requirements
of the zoning district in which it is located.
D. Signs.
(1)
Nonconforming signs may be repaired or reconstructed, provided
that no structural alterations are made which increase the gross surface
area of the sign; however, nonconforming signs which are damaged or
destroyed to an extent of more than 50% of their replacement cost
at the time of destruction shall not be reconstructed except in conformity
with the provisions of this chapter.
(2)
Nonconforming signs may not be enlarged, added to or replaced
by another nonconforming sign, use or structure, except that the interchange
of poster panels shall be permitted.
E. Repair or maintenance. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to
prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any
structure or part thereof declared to be unsafe by any official charged
with protecting the safety of the populace.
The following regulations shall apply to all nonconforming lots,
as defined by this chapter, in any zoning district:
A. Where two or more adjacent lots of record with continuous frontage have less than the required area and width and are held by one owner, the lots shall be considered to be an undivided lot for the purpose of complying with this chapter. No division of any lot shall be made which does not comply with the requirements of this chapter. Any change in lot lines, necessary to meet the minimum requirements of this chapter, shall constitute a revision to the recorded plan and shall meet all applicable requirements of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (Chapter
22).
B. Any lot of record existing at the effective date of this chapter
and held in separate ownership different from the ownership of adjoining
lots may be developed in accordance with the requirements of the zoning
district of the lot of record.
C. Where structures exist on adjacent nonconforming lots of record which
have front yards less than the minimum depth required, the minimum
front yard for an adjacent undeveloped nonconforming lot of record
shall be the average depth of the nonconforming front yards of the
adjacent developed nonconforming lots which are in the same block
on the same side of the street and in the same recorded plan as the
undeveloped lot. Private garages, storage sheds, swimming pools and
similar structures shall be located to the rear of the permitted principal
structure and may be permitted in the rear yard, provided that they
are no closer than 10 feet from the rear lot line and are not located
on any easements or rights-of-way.
Subject to the provisions of this Part
23, a nonconforming lot, nonconforming building or structure or nonconforming use may be continued even though such does not conform to the provisions of these regulations for the district in which it is located. The Zoning Officer may keep and maintain a list of all nonconforming lots, buildings and structures or uses existing at the time of the passage of this chapter, its predecessors or amendments thereto, and which may come to exist in the future.