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City of Bridgeton, NJ
Cumberland County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (7) Index
A. 
The zoning districts established by this chapter are designed to satisfy the general zoning intent pursuant to § 370-3.
B. 
The regulations set forth in this article are intended to allow the continuation, expansion or change in nonconforming uses, structures or lots.
A. 
Continuation.
(1) 
Lawful uses located either within a building or other structure or part thereof, or on the land, or in combination of both, which, at the effective date of this chapter, become nonconforming, may be continued so long as they remain otherwise lawful, including subsequent sales of the property.
(2) 
Whenever a zoning district shall be changed, any existing nonconforming use in such changed district may be continued.
B. 
Expansion.
(1) 
A nonconforming use of land shall not be enlarged or increased, nor shall any nonconforming use be extended to occupy a greater area of land than that occupied at the effective date of this chapter, nor shall any such nonconforming use be moved in whole or part to any other portion of the lot or parcel of land occupied by such nonconforming use without approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
C. 
Changes in use.
(1) 
A nonconforming use may be changed to a conforming use pursuant to § 370-86.
(2) 
A nonconforming use shall not be changed to any other type of nonconforming use without the approval of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
D. 
Discontinuance of nonconforming use. A nonconforming use shall be considered to be discontinued if:
(1) 
The use involving a structure or land is discontinued for 12 consecutive months and the requisite legal intent is demonstrated to confirm the termination of the use.
(2) 
The subsequent use of the discontinued nonconforming use, building, structure or land shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter unless a variance is granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
A. 
Continuation. A lawful nonconforming building or other structure may continue to be used so long as all other conditions remain lawful, including subsequent sale of the building or structure.
B. 
Alteration, enlargement and repair of nonconforming buildings.
(1) 
Normal maintenance, minor alteration, and remodeling of a nonconforming building or structure is permitted, provided that such repairs, alterations and remodeling do not substantially increase the degree of nonconformity of the building nor extend the nonconforming use.
(2) 
Nonconforming buildings and structures containing nonconforming uses shall not be moved, added to or enlarged upon in any manner without the approval of the Zoning Officer pursuant to § 370-86.
C. 
Damage or destruction.
(1) 
If a nonconforming building or a building or structure containing a nonconforming use is damaged or destroyed by any means to the extent that the foundation is destroyed or damaged and is no longer structurally sound, as deemed by a licensed structural engineer, such building or structure shall not be moved, rebuilt or reconstructed except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter unless reconstructed, within one year after such damage, and upon the same plan and with the same cubical content as that of the original building or structure.
A. 
Continuation. Signs may be continued to be used only if they are properly maintained and do not impose a hazardous condition which may adversely affect the health, safety and welfare of the community.
B. 
Structural alterations. Unless permitted by the Zoning Officer pursuant to § 370-86, no nonconforming sign shall be:
(1) 
Moved to another position on the building or lot on which is located.
(2) 
Structurally altered in terms of its area, mounting or attachment to any building or structure.
C. 
Damage or destruction. In the event that any nonconforming advertising sign, billboard or commercial advertising structure is damaged, it may be restored or replaced pursuant to § 370-86.
D. 
Discontinuance of signs. Whenever any use of building or structure or land or of a combination of buildings, structures and land ceases, all signs accessory to such use shall be removed in accordance with § 370-65D.
A. 
Permitted uses of nonconforming lots.
(1) 
Lots of record which are nonconforming in the residential district may be used for single-family detached dwellings:
(a) 
Provided the yard and building setback line requirements can be met, and
(b) 
There is no adjacent property available to make the property compliant or to reduce the extent of nonconformity.
(2) 
Such lot must be in separate ownership and not form part of a continuous frontage with other lots in the same ownership.