(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
The purpose of this Section is to provide for the gradual elimination or conversion, after a reasonable allowance of time for the amortization of investments therein, of certain classes of nonconforming uses in buildings, in order to encourage and promote the orderly and beneficial development of the land and buildings with conforming uses. The Section is intended to apply to obsolescent buildings whose use is widely at variance with the regulations of this Code, and is safeguarded against unnecessary hardship in application by provision for a minimum period of continuance of 20 years, by procedures for extension and exceptions, and by the requirement of repeated notice as the buildings approach an age indicative of obsolescence. It is further declared that the requirement of eventual removal, or conversion to conforming use of such buildings, subject to the exceptions set forth, is in the public interest and is intended to promote the general welfare.
(a) This Section shall apply only to nonconforming uses occupying buildings in R Districts, other than Residential-Commercial Combined Districts, when such uses would first be permitted as a principal or conditional use in an NC, C or M District or in a Residential-Commercial Combined District. It shall not apply to exempt limited commercial and industrial uses meeting the requirements of Section 186, or to any nonconforming use of land or a building whose continuance is more strictly limited by the provisions of Section 184.
(b) Every such building to which this Section applies may be continued in such use for at least 20 years from the effective date of this Code (May 2, 1960), or of the amendment thereto which causes it to be nonconforming, and may be continued for a longer period if it has not yet reached the age hereinafter specified, computed from the date the building was erected. For buildings of Type 1 or Type 2, as defined in the Building Code of the City, the specified age shall be 50 years; for Type 3 buildings it shall be 40 years; and for Type 4 and Type 5 buildings it shall be 30 years.
(c) Upon the expiration of the period specified for each such building, it shall be completely removed or altered and converted to a conforming use, except as hereinafter provided.
(d) Where special circumstances apply to any such building and use, which do not apply generally to others affected hereby, extension of time may be granted under the variance procedure as regulated in Section 305, but no such extension shall be for a period in excess of one year. Successive extensions, subject to the same limitations, may be granted upon new application.
(e) Any nonconforming use affected by this Section shall be qualified for consideration by the Planning Commission as a conditional use as regulated in Section 303, upon application filed at any time during the period of permitted continuance specified above. In the event that a conditional use is authorized by the Planning Commission for any such use, the provisions of Sections 180 through 183 shall continue to apply to such use except as specifically provided in the action of the Commission, and no enlargement, intensification or extension of the nonconforming use shall be permitted by the Commission.
(Amended by Ord. 470-79, App. 9/28/79; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 140-11, File No. 110482, App. 7/5/2011, Eff. 8/4/2011)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Division (e) amended; former division (f) deleted; Ord. 140-11, Eff. 8/4/2011.