The lawful nonconforming use of a structure or land, including but not limited to fences, parking and zoning setbacks existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of this chapter may be continued although the use does not conform with the provisions of this chapter. An owner of an existing nonconforming structure will be allowed to extend, enlarge, reconstruct, move or structurally alter the building, so long as the new construction does not increase the extent of the nonconformity of the structure in any respect and does not create any new nonconformity. The owner of a nonconforming structure shall submit site and elevation plans to the Architectural Review Board for approval, along with a land survey in cases where the lot lines are questionable (to be determined by the City).

If no structural alterations are made, a nonconforming use of a building may be changed to any use permitted in the same use district as that in which the use existing is permitted according to the provisions of this chapter, provided that when a use district is changed, any existing, nonconforming use in such changed district may be continued or changed to a use permitted in the same use district as that in which the existing use is permitted, provided that all other regulations governing the new use are complied with.

Substitution of new equipment may be permitted by the Zoning Board of Appeals if such equipment will not increase the incompatibility of the nonconforming use with the neighboring uses.

Termination. If such nonconforming use is discontinued or terminated for a period of 12 months, any future use of the structure or land shall conform to the provisions of this chapter.

Building destroyed by fire. Where a building located in a district restricted against its use has been destroyed by fire or other calamity to the extent of not more than 50% of its fair market value, the same may be rebuilt; but where such a building is destroyed to the extent of more than 50% of its fair market value, a permit may be granted for its reconstruction within 12 months from the date of such fire or other calamity, except any public utility located in a restricted district shall be permitted to rebuild, alter or enlarge in any business district as the interest of the public demands.[1]

In a Residential District, a one-family detached dwelling and its accessory structures may be erected on any legal lot or parcel of record in the County Register of Deeds office before December 31, 1979.

Such lot or parcel shall be in separate ownership from abutting lands. If abutting lands and the substandard lot are owned by the same owner, the substandard lot shall not be sold or used without full compliance with the provisions of this chapter. If in separate ownership, all the district requirements shall be complied with insofar as practical, but shall not be less than the following:

Side: minimum 16% of the frontage, but not less than five feet (six feet, four inches for forty-foot lots).