The lawful use of any building or land existing at the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance or amendments thereto may be continued, although such use does not conform with the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance.
(a) Alterations. A nonconforming building, structure or use existing at the time this Zoning Ordinance takes effect, may be altered or enlarged so as to extend such nonconforming use, not to exceed an additional fifty percent (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 identical or in less conflict with character and use of the district than the existing nonconforming use as determined by the Planning Commission.
(c) Editor's Note: Former subsection (c) hereof was repealed by Ordinance 24-06, passed July 18, 2006.
(d) Construction Approved Prior to Zoning Ordinance. Nothing in this Zoning Ordinance 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 Zoning Ordinance or any amendment thereto provided that construction is commenced within ninety days after the issuance of such certificate; that construction is carried on diligently and without interruption for a continuous period in excess of thirty days; and that the entire building shall have been completed within two years after the issuance of such zoning certificate.
(e) Displacement. No nonconforming use shall be extended to displace a conforming use.
(f) Discontinuance of 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 Zoning Ordinance.
(g) Unsafe Structures. Nothing in this Zoning Ordinance 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) Certificate of Nonconforming Use. Within one year of the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance, the Zoning Inspector shall issue a certificate of nonconforming use to all nonconforming use property, the use of which does not conform to the provisions of the use zone in which the property is located.
(1) In accordance with the provisions of this section, no use of land, buildings or structures shall be made other than that specified on the certificate of nonconforming use unless such use shall be in conformance with the provisions of the use zone in which the property is located.
(2) A copy of each certificate of nonconforming use shall be filed in the office of the Planning Commission, and a copy retained by the Zoning Inspector.
(i) 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. 22-1972. Passed 8-1-72.)