(a) It is the intent of the Zoning Ordinance to permit legal nonconforming lots, structures or uses to continue until they are removed but not to encourage their survival.
(b) It is recognized that there exists within the districts established by the Zoning Ordinance and subsequent amendments, lots, structures and uses of land and structures which were lawful before the Zoning Ordinance was passed or amended which would be prohibited, regulated or restricted under the terms of the Zoning Ordinance or future amendments.
(c) Such uses are declared by the Zoning Ordinance to be incompatible with permitted uses in the districts involved. It is further the intent of the Zoning Ordinance that nonconformities shall not be enlarged upon, expanded or extended nor be used as grounds for adding other structures or uses prohibited elsewhere in the same district.
(d) A nonconforming use of a structure, a nonconforming use of land, or a nonconforming use of a structure and land shall not be extended or enlarged after passage of the Zoning Ordinance by attachment on a building or premise of additional signs intended to be seen from off the premises, or by addition of other uses of a nature which would not be permitted generally in the district involved.
(e) To avoid undue hardship, nothing in the Zoning Ordinance shall be deemed to require a change in the plans, construction or designated use of any building on which actual construction was lawfully begun prior to the effective date of adoption of the Zoning Ordinance and upon which actual building construction has been diligently carried on. Actual construction is hereby defined to include the placing of construction materials in permanent position and fastened in a permanent manner; except that where demolition or removal of an existing building has been substantially begun preparatory to rebuilding such demolition or removal shall be deemed to be actual construction, provided that work shall be diligently carried on until completion of the building involved. (Ord. 82-1970. Passed 11-2-70.)