If lawful use involving individual structures with a replacement cost of $3,000 or more, or of structure and premises in combinations, exists at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter, that would not be allowed in the district under the terms of this chapter, the lawful use may be continued so long as it remains otherwise lawful, subject to the following provisions:
(A) No existing structure devoted to a use not permitted by this chapter in the district in which it is located shall be enlarged, extended, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered except in changing the use of the structure to a use permitted in the district in which it is located;
(B) Any non-conforming use may be extended throughout any parts of a building which were manifestly arranged or designed for such use at the time of adoption or amendment of this chapter, but no such use shall be extended to occupy any land outside such building;
(C) If no structure alterations are made, any non-conforming use of a structure, or structure and premises, may as a special exception be changed to another non-conforming use provided that the Zoning Board of Appeals, either by general rule or by making findings in the specific case, shall find that the proposed use is equally appropriate or more appropriate to the district than the existing non- conforming use. In permitting such change, the Zoning Board of Appeals may require appropriate conditions and safeguards in accord with the provisions of this chapter;
(D) When a non-conforming use of a structure, or structure and premises in combination, is discontinued or abandoned for six consecutive months or for 12 months during any three-year period (except when government action impedes access to the premises), the structure, or structures and premises in combination, shall not thereafter be used except in conformity with the regulations of the district in which it is located; and
(E) Where non-conforming use status applies to a structure and premises in combination, removal or destruction of the structure shall eliminate the non-conforming status of the land. Destruction for the purpose of this subsection is defined as damage to an extent of more than 50% of the replacement cost at the time of destruction.
(Ord. 96-54, passed 3-26-96)