A.Â
Policy. A nonconforming use is any use of a building or structure, lot or land or part thereof which does not conform to the regulations of this chapter for the district in which it is located. A building containing a nonconforming use may not be altered by improvements exceeding an aggregate cost of 50% of the assessed or market value as established by current appraisal of the property, unless the effect of the change is to achieve a conforming use. (See Article V, § 575-28B.)
B.Â
Discontinuance. Whenever a nonconforming use has been discontinued by reason of vacancy of land or building or cessation of such use for a period of two years, such use shall not thereafter be reestablished without the granting of a special permit by the Zoning Board of Appeals, as enumerated in Article VI, § 575-33, of this chapter. Any future use shall be in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
C.Â
Changes. Once changed to a conforming use, no building
or land shall be permitted to revert to a nonconforming use. A nonconforming
use may be changed by special permit to a use of the same or more
restrictive classification and such use thereafter shall not be changed
to a less restrictive classification as listed in the Use Table.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Use Table is included at the end of this
chapter.
B.Â
Restoration. A nonconforming building damaged by fire
or other cause, to the extent of more than 50% of the assessed value
or market value as established by current appraisal, exclusive of
land, shall not be repaired or rebuilt to contain any greater ground
floor area or number of stories than contained therein prior to such
damage, except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter,
unless approved by special permit.
A.Â
Policy. Any building or use lawfully existing under
the provisions of this chapter, in effect at the time of the establishment
of said use, or prior to the establishment of such an ordinance or
amendment thereof, may be continued subject to compliance with the
conditions set forth in this chapter.
B.Â
Effect of change in map. Whenever a district shall
be changed hereafter, the provisions of this chapter with regard to
any building or uses lawfully existing at the time of the passage
of this chapter shall apply subject to compliance with the conditions
set forth here to any building or use lawfully existing in such changed
district at the time of the passage of such amendment.
C.Â
Construction approved prior to adoption of or amendment
of chapter. Nothing herein contained shall require any change in plans,
construction or designated use of a building for which a building
permit has been heretofore issued and the construction of which shall
have been diligently prosecuted within three months of the date of
said permit, and the ground floor framework of which, including the
second tier of beams, shall have been completed within six months
of the date of the permit, and which entire building shall be completed
according to such plans as filed within one year from date of this
chapter.
A.Â
Policy. Nothing in this article shall be deemed to
prevent normal maintenance and repair of an existing building.