[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
1. Any nonconforming use or structure legally existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter, or which is created whenever a district is changed by amendment to this chapter hereafter, may be continued, altered, reconstructed, changed, sold, or maintained even though it does not conform to the regulations for the district in which it is located (Part
3), and the supplementary regulations (Parts 4 and 5), except as provided below:
A. Registration.
(1)
The Zoning Officer may identify and register the nonconforming
lots, uses and structures existing as of the effective date of this
chapter. When registering a nonconforming primary use, the Zoning
Officer shall also register all accessory uses in place on the site
as of the date registration is made, and shall indicate in each case
whether the accessory use is conforming or nonconforming.
(2)
Any party aggrieved by any decision or action of the Zoning
Officer may appeal such decision or action to the Zoning Hearing Board,
as set forth in Part 10, or may take such other steps as are provided
by law.
B. Repairs and Alterations. Repairs and structural alterations may be
made to a nonconforming building, or to a building occupied by a nonconforming
use. If said building is damaged by fire, flood, or other natural
disaster, it may be reconstructed, restored, or used as before providing:
(1)
Said work commences within 90 days of the damage.
(2)
Where the nonconformity is located in a Flood Hazard Boundary Area, (as defined in the Gregg Township Floodplain Management Ordinance [Chapter
3]), the new construction must comply with all flood proofing and other requirements of the Gregg Township Floodplain Ordinance [Chapter
3].
(3)
Where the nonconformity is located in a floodway area, the reconstruction
may not exceed the size, bulk, height, and area that existed prior
to the damage.
(4)
In the case of a nonconforming structure, said work or reconstruction
must bring the structure, insofar as practically possible, into conformity
with all the district regulations, and other regulations of this chapter.
C. Abandonment. If any nonconforming use or structure is abandoned,
as set forth below, for a period in excess of 180 days, the future
use of such building or land shall be in conformity with the district
regulations (Part 3), and the supplementary regulations (Part 4 and
5).
(1)
A nonconforming use shall for these purposes be considered as
abandoned when there occurs a deliberate cessation of any such use
or activity, or by an apparent act or failure to act on the part of
any tenant or owner, the use or activity ceases, and the period of
180 days elapses without any open, concerted, definite act on the
part of said tenant or owner to recommence the use or activity.
(2)
It is recognized that a nonconforming use may have several distinct
accessory aspects; i.e., that one commercial or industrial nonconforming
use may include uses such as offices, clerical and managerial, sales
(either wholesale or retail), storage, distribution or production
as accessory uses. A use shall not be considered abandoned for purposes
of this chapter unless the primary use (i.e., production or sales)
and all accessory uses, i.e., office/clerical, storage, sales or production
(as appropriate) have ceased on the site for the required period of
time.
(3)
In cases where a particular use operates under license or permit
from either the commonwealth, the federal government, or some agency
thereof, the existence of a current, valid license or permit, properly
obtained, shall be considered prima facie evidence that the use has
not been abandoned for these purposes.
D. Expansion of Nonconforming Structures.
(1)
Pursuant to the goals and objectives of the chapter as set forth in Part
1, including the protection of the general health, welfare and environment of the Township, the Township herewith enacts a sliding scale for the expansion of nonconforming uses within the Township. Adoption of this scale is based upon the premise that a small nonconforming use has less impact on the lands and waters of the Township, and on the immediate neighborhood environment, and should therefore be treated differently than a large nonconforming use.
(2)
Nonconforming uses and structures shall be measured by the square
footage area of the use or structure as determined by the Township
Zoning Officer. Insofar as possible, said determination shall be made
of the area as of the date of enactment of this chapter. In those
situations where passage of time has made it impossible to determine
the exact area as of the date of enactment of this chapter, the Zoning
Officer shall make an approximate determination based on evidence
available, and that determination shall be used as the basis for determining
expansion hereunder.
(3)
Extensions, alterations, and additions may be made to nonconforming
uses and/or structures according to the following scale:
Area of Nonconforming Use
(square feet)
|
Expansion
|
---|
1-1,000
|
500%, or 4,000 square feet, whichever is greater
|
1,001-3,000
|
400%
|
3,001-5,000
|
300%
|
5,001-10,000
|
200%
|
10,001-20,000
|
100%
|
20,001-50,000
|
75%
|
50,001 and up
|
50%
|
(4)
Provided further, that any extensions, enlargements or alterations
to any nonconforming structure shall conform to the regulations of
the district except as follows:
(a)
A nonconforming structure may be extended, enlarged or added
to in violation of a district's setback regulations; provided
that the encroachment into the setback area is no greater than currently
exists. For example, if the district's setback requirement is
65 feet from the center of the highway and the existing structure
is 50 feet from the center of the highway, an addition or extension
of the structure may be 50 feet from the center of the highway.
(b)
The extension, enlargement, addition or alteration may not be
more violative of the setback regulations than the existing structure
currently is.
E. Expansion of Nonconforming Consumptive Uses.
(1)
Where a particular nonconforming use exists on a portion of
an existing lot, and where said nonconforming use is consumptive by
its nature, (i.e., quarrying or mining) the use may be expanded (subject
to setbacks and other regulations).
(2)
When contained within one lot, the expansion shall be regulated by §
15-441 herein.
(3)
When additional adjacent or contiguous lots are purchased for the purpose of expanding the nonconforming consumptive use, whether or not merged by filing a lot addition plan with the county, the use may be expanded to cover no more than the maximum allowable amount (under §
15-441) of the original lot as it exists as of the date of adoption of this chapter, plus additional contiguous land area mounting 50% of the original lot as it existed as of the date of adoption of this chapter, or 50% of the adjacent/contiguous lot, whichever is less.
(4)
If the use has reached its maximum size limit hereunder, new
land may be disturbed if, at the same time, disturbed land is reclaimed
and restored, reasonably simultaneously and on a one-for-one area
basis.
F. Changing Nonconforming Uses.
(1)
A nonconforming use of a building or land may be changed to
another use equally nonconforming or less nonconforming. A nonconforming
use of a building or land may not be changed to a use more nonconforming
than the use in existence at the time of passage of this chapter.
(2)
Nonconforming accessory uses may be added to or commenced at
the site of a nonconforming primary use, provided that the accessory
use is equally or less nonconforming than the primary use, and that
the other provisions of this Part, such as those relating to the maximum
expansion of a nonconforming use and displacing a confirming use,
are adhered to.
(3)
If a nonconforming use is changed or altered so as to be less
nonconforming, or in conformance with the district regulations, it
may not be changed back to the original nonconforming use, or any
use more nonconforming than the use as changed.
(4)
The Zoning Hearing Board shall determine in each instance the
relative levels of nonconformity of several uses, for the purposes
of administering this section.
G. Extension. A nonconforming use shall not be extended so as to displace
a conforming use.
H. Existence for Purposes of this chapter.
(1)
A nonconforming use shall be deemed to be existence, and legally
protected hereunder, if valid Gregg Township building and sewage permits
have been issued, and ground has been broken for a foundation (or
other preparatory construction work has begun), before the date of
adoption of this chapter, or applicable amendment hereto. Nothing
herein shall require any change in plans, construction or designation
of use of a building or structure which complies with existing laws,
or for which valid sewage and building permits were granted and where
construction shall have commenced, before the date of adoption of
this chapter, or applicable amendment thereto.
(2)
For these purposes, subdivision, submission of subdivision plans
to the county or Township, surveying, and the like shall not be considered
the commencement of construction. Construction shall be deemed to
have been commenced by the issuance of a Gregg Township sewage and
building permit, and the breaking of ground for a foundation.
I. Expansion in a Floodway. Existing nonconforming uses in a Floodway
District may not be expanded or enlarged.
J. Supplementary Regulations Not Applicable to Existing Nonconforming
uses. Existing nonconforming uses (and accessory uses) as registered
by the Zoning Officer shall not be subject to the supplementary regulations
set forth in Part 5 herein.
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
1. Continuation. Any nonconforming lot legally existing at the time
of the adoption of this chapter or which is created whenever a district
is changed by amendment hereafter, may generally be continued, used,
sold, bought, rented and/or maintained as before the adoption of this
chapter; provided, that all other yard dimensions and requirements
of the lot shall conform to the regulations of this chapter and/or
any other state, county or Township regulations that may apply. Variances
of yard setback requirements can be obtained only through action of
the Zoning Hearing Board.
2. Permits. In the case of a lot of record, held in single and separate
ownership at the effective date of this chapter, which does not meet
the minimum area requirements for the district in which it is located,
a permitted structure may be placed on the lot provided that:
A. The owner does not own adjoining land.
B. Each side yard is not less than 15 feet, and is kept clear to permit
the passage of fire and emergency vehicles.
C. The rear yard is not less than 15 feet, and is kept clear to permit
the passage of fire and emergency vehicles.
D. The front yard conforms to the minimum distance required.
E. The site is approved for sewage disposal, ad has an adequate supply
of potable water from either on-site or off-sire wells.
F. The site and its intended use complies with all other applicable
provisions of this chapter.