This Article applies only to uses in existence on the effective date of this chapter. Except as otherwise expressly provided in §
290-29, the lawful use of any premises existing on the effective date of this chapter may be continued although neither such use nor the bulk of the same conforms to the regulations. The effective date of this chapter as referred to in this Article shall also include the effective date of any subsequent amendment to this chapter which may cause any use to become a nonconforming use subject to the regulations herein, provided that a use in existence at the effective date of this ordinance, which use is permitted by special permit within the district in which the use is located, shall be considered a conforming use for the purposes of this chapter and shall not be required to obtain a special permit to continue said use.
Buildings with nonconforming use and nonconforming bulk may receive routine maintenance or repairs and interior structural alteration. Relocation or enlargement is permitted, provided that no new nonconforming bulk is added to such building. "Nonconforming bulk" shall mean any portion of the building which is located within a required front, rear or side yard. Additional nonconforming bulk shall be deemed to occur if any additional floor area or projection into a required front, rear or side yard is proposed. In the event that a building with prior nonconforming use and prior nonconforming bulk is damaged by casualty or voluntarily demolished, any new or replacement construction shall be required to conform to the then existing general bulk regulations unless excepted by the provisions of §
290-29E. In all cases involving reconstruction, alteration or enlargement, site plan approval, if required by §
290-31C, shall be obtained prior to the issuance of a building permit.