The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted to be the
minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the health, safety,
morals and the general welfare of the Town of Northbridge, Massachusetts;
and except for the Zoning Bylaw adopted by the Town Meeting of 1938
and all subsequent amendments thereto, the provisions of this chapter
are not intended to repeal, amend, abrogate, annul or in any way impair
or interfere with any lawfully adopted law, statute, ordinance, bylaw,
covenants, regulations or rules. Whenever the regulations made under
the authority hereof differ from those prescribed by any law, statute,
ordinance, bylaw or other regulation, that provision which imposes
the greater restriction or the higher standard shall govern.
Except as herein provided or as specifically exempted by the
Zoning Act, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to the following:
the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration and use of
buildings and structures and use of land. Any existing conforming
use, structure or lot shall not by any action become nonconforming,
and any existing nonconforming use, structure or lot shall not become
nonconforming or further nonconforming as provided herein.
