The lawful use of any building or land existing at the effective date of this chapter or amendments thereto may be continued, although such use does not conform with the provisions of this chapter.
(A) Alterations. A nonconforming building, structure or use existing at the time this chapter takes effect, may be altered or enlarged so as to extend said nonconforming use, not to exceed an additional 50%, upon approval of the Planning Commission.
(B) Nonconforming to nonconforming use. A nonconforming use may be changed to another nonconforming use provided that the proposed nonconforming use is no more in conflict with the character and use of the district than the existing nonconforming use as determined by the Planning Commission.
(C) Restoration. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the reconstruction, repairing, rebuilding and continued use of any nonconforming building or structure, damaged by fire, collapse, explosion or acts of God, subsequent to the date of this chapter wherein expense of such work does not exceed 60% of the replacement cost of the building or structure at the time such damage occurred.
(D) Construction approved prior to this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the completion of construction and use of a nonconforming building for which a zoning certificate has been issued prior to the effective date of this chapter or any amendment thereto provided that construction is commenced within 90 days after the issuance of such certificate; that construction is carried on diligently and without interruption for a continuous period in excess of 30 days; and that the entire building shall have been completed within two years after the issuance of said zoning certificate.
(E) Displacement. No nonconforming use shall be extended to displace a conforming use.
(F) Discontinuance or abandonment. Whenever a nonconforming use has been discontinued for a period of two years or more, any further use shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
(G) Unsafe structures. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any portion of a building or structure declared unsafe by a proper authority.
(H) District changes. Whenever the boundaries of a district shall be changed so as to transfer an area from one district to another of a different classification, the foregoing provisions shall also apply to any nonconforming use existing therein.
(Ord. 30-1974, § 701.1, passed 7-15-1974)