Goshen Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Nonconforming Uses, Structures and Lots
§ 97-30 Continuation of nonconforming uses and structures.
Any structure or use which was legal when built or commenced and which was in existence at the time of enactment or amendment of this chapter, which becomes nonconforming as a result of such enactment or amendment, may be continued, except that:
§ 97-31 Discontinuance and reestablishment.
A.
Discontinuance. If a nonconforming use of land or structures is discontinued for a period of one year, it shall not thereafter be reestablished except as provided in Subsection B, and any future use shall be in conformity with this chapter.
B.
Reestablishment. The Planning Board may issue a special permit for the reestablishment of the use after the one-year period has expired if the applicant has been prevented from continuing the use during the one-year period due to strikes, acts of God, disability, or other similar hardship beyond the applicant's control.
§ 97-32 Restoration, expansion and repair.
A nonconforming use or structure shall not be extended, enlarged, or structurally altered except as provided below. The extension of a conforming use to any portion of a nonconforming structure shall not be deemed the extension of a nonconforming structure or use.
A.
A nonconforming structure or use may be rebuilt in the event of its total or partial destruction, to occupy the same or a lesser amount of footprint, but may not exceed the original height of the totally or partially destroyed structure. Such rebuilding shall require site plan review by the Planning Board.
B.
The Planning Board may issue a special permit allowing an expansion of a nonconforming use or structure by up to 50% of its area at the time of the adoption of this chapter, provided that all other requirements can be met, and that such expansion does not reduce any nonconforming setbacks by more than 20%. The Planning Board may allow a greater reduction in a nonconforming front setback if it finds such a reduction to be consistent with the pattern of existing buildings in the vicinity. Expansion or introduction of uses prohibited by § 97-10C shall not be permitted.
C.
A nonconforming use or structure may be repaired or restored to a safe condition.
§ 97-33 Change of nonconforming use.
A nonconforming use of a structure or parcel of land may, upon issuance of a special permit by the Planning Board, be changed to another nonconforming use which is of the same or lesser impact, except that no use prohibited by § 97-10C shall be permitted under any circumstances. No structure in which a nonconforming use has been changed to a use of lesser impact shall again be devoted to a nonconforming use with greater impact. In determining whether a use is of greater or lesser impact, the Planning Board shall consider the impact criteria listed in § 97-73.
§ 97-34 Special permit uses.
Any preexisting legal use which is allowable by special permit under this chapter, but which has not been issued a special permit, shall be considered a nonconforming use until it is granted a special permit by the Planning Board. The expansion of such a use, other than a single-family or two-family residence, shall require site plan approval.
§ 97-35 Construction started prior to effective date.
Any structure for which construction was begun prior to the effective date of this chapter, or of any amendment thereto, may be completed and used in accordance with the approved plans and specifications for such structure. Any structure for which construction has not begun pursuant to approved plans shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter and any amendments thereto, even if all preconstruction approvals have been granted. For purposes of this § 97-35, "beginning construction" shall mean excavation and pouring of footings or the installation of any other means of permanently attaching a structure to the ground.
§ 97-36 Existing nonconforming lots.
[Amended 2-23-2009 by L.L. No. 1-2009]
A.
A lot owned individually and separately and separated in ownership from any adjoining tracts of land on the effective date of this chapter, which has a total lot area or road frontage less than prescribed in this chapter for a small-scale development lot (see § 97-19) may be used for a one-family dwelling, provided such lot shall be developed in conformity with all applicable district regulations other than the minimum lot area, road frontage, and side yards. Existing small lots meeting the above stipulations shall comply with the following in the use of such lot for a one-family dwelling:
For Lot Frontage (feet) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Greater Than | Less Than/Equal To | Minimum Side Yard (feet) | Total Both Side Yards (feet) | |
100 | 135 | 20 | 50 | |
80 | 100 | 12 | 30 | |
60 | 80 | 10 | 27 | |
49 | 60 | 7 1/2 | 1/3 of lot width | |
B.
A nonconforming lot may be subdivided only if the subdivision plat shows that every subdivided portion of such lot will be merged with adjoining properties to increase the area of such properties, thereby eliminating the nonconforming lot.
C.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any undeveloped lot in a subdivision which was not properly approved by the Planning Board or Town Board or not filed in the office of the County Clerk, and whose area or dimensions do not comply with the requirements of this chapter, shall be considered a violation of this chapter and shall not be protected under Subsection A.