(a) Continuation of Use. A nonconforming use, building, or structure, herein defined as a building, structure or premises legally existing and/or used at the time of adoption of this Zoning Ordinance or any applicable amendment thereto, which does not conform with the use regulations of the district in which it is located, may be continued.
(b) Registration of Nonconforming Uses. The owner of the premises occupied by a lawful nonconforming use or building may secure within a year a certificate of nonconformance from the Zoning Officer. Such Certificate shall be authorized by the Zoning Board of Appeals and shall be for the purpose of insuring to the owner the right to continue such nonconforming use.
(c) Applicability to Existing or Industrial Uses. None of the regulations contained in this Zoning Ordinance shall limit alterations, additions to, replacement of structures, or to the acquisition or use of land presently owned by any firm or industry but not used for industrial purposes or to the use or acquisition of additional land which may be required for the protection, continuing development or expansion of any present or future satellite, industrial or manufacturing use nor shall the abandonment of any particular manufacturing process be construed as abandonment of manufacturing use.
(d) Applicability to Existing Residential and Commercial Uses. None of the regulations contained in this Ordinance shall limit the expansion, repairs, maintenance or restoration of a nonconforming residential or commercial use, subject however to the lot, yard and building requirements of the district in which it is located as shown in Article 1323, Schedule II, and further subject to the voluntary change of such a residential and commercial nonconforming use to a lower numbered use class or to a conforming use shall be considered an abandonment thereof, and such nonconforming use cannot be revived.
(e) Displacement and Change of Use.
(1) A nonconforming use may be changed into a conforming use.
(2) A use listed in a specific use class which is a nonconforming use because of its location cannot be changed into another nonconforming use first listed in a use class with a higher number.
(3) Buildings or structures, regardless of conformity or ownership, shall not be combined for the purpose of extending an existing nonconforming use, or for creating a different nonconforming use. (5-16-67.)
(4) A nonconforming use shall have been abandoned for any given property after a continuous period lasting two years or more of inactivity of the nonconforming use.
(Ord. 89-4. Passed 6-14-89.)
(f) Permit Required. Any expansion, repair, maintenance or restoration of a nonconforming use as permitted in this section shall require a zoning permit.
(g) Prior Approval. A building, structure or use, planned, constructed or designed in compliance with existing laws prior to the passage of this section shall be deemed a legal nonconforming use, provided that:
(1) The construction or use was actually started within sixty days after the passage of this section.
(2) The ground story framework including the second tier of beams is completed within 270 days after the passage of this section.
(3) The entire building, structure or use is completed or installed and ready for occupancy or operation within 450 days after the passage of this section.
(5-16-67)