Except as otherwise provided in this article, the lawful use of land or buildings which did not violate the Land Use Ordinances of the City of Estell Manor or any law of the State of New Jersey regulating uses in the Pinelands Area at the time said use commenced or was commenced pursuant to a duly authorized variance and/or other approval issued by the Pinelands Commission may be continued, although the use of the building does not conform to the regulations specified by this chapter for the zone in which the land or buildings are located, provided that:

The Planning Board shall find a nonconforming use to be abandoned in the event of an overt act or failure to act which carries a sufficient implication that the owner neither claims nor retains any interest in the subject matter of the abandonment and an intention to abandon.

The Zoning Officer shall issue a zoning permit for the restoration of any nonconforming use where the restoration does not exceed the original area of disturbance or footprint. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition any wall floor or roof which the Building Inspector has declared unsafe.

No nonconforming use shall, if once changed into a conforming use, be changed back into a nonconforming use.

A nonconforming building, structure or sign may be reconstructed but not enlarged or extended, unless the building is changed to a building conforming or more nearly conforming to the requirements of this chapter.

In the case of an area which has been or may be in the future transferred from one zone to another zone of a different classification or having different requirements as a result of any changes in the Land Use Ordinances of the City of Estell Manor, the foregoing provisions shall also apply to any nonconforming use created thereby.