The lawful use of land or buildings existing at the time of the adoption of this Zoning Ordinance may continue although such use does not conform to the regulations specified by this Zoning Ordinance for the district in which such land or building is located, subject to the following conditions:
(a) Any nonconforming use of land or building which has ceased by discontinuance or abandonment for a period of six months shall thereafter conform to the district regulations in which the use is located.
(b) Any nonconforming building which has been destroyed by fire, explosion, flood, earthquake, or other act of God to the extent of sixty percent (60%) or more of its assessed valuation shall therefore conform to the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance. Where more than forty percent (40%) of the assessed value of the building remains after such damage, such structure may be restored to the same nonconforming use as existed before such damage, provided however that such restoration shall be commenced within six months of the date that the damage occurred on, and completed within one year.
(c) No nonconforming building shall be enlarged or structurally altered except to make it a conforming building, provided however that the Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the authority to permit one expansion of no more than twenty-five percent (25%) provided that the standards set forth in Section 1143.38(a) to (f) are met.
(d) The Board shall have the authority to permit a substitution of one nonconforming use for another nonconforming use, provided however that:
(1) No use other than a use first permitted in the business district shall be substituted for a use in a residential zone; and
(2) The Board determines that the standards contained in Section 1143.38(a) to (f) are met.
(Ord. 92-20. Passed 11-23-92.)