Any lawful use occupying any building, structure, lot or land at the time of the effective date of this chapter or any amendment thereto which does not comply, after the effective date of this chapter or any amendment thereto, with the use regulations of the district in which it is situated may be continued in the building or structure or upon the lot or land so occupied, except as provided in § 235-55.

A conforming building or structure used by a nonconforming use shall not be reconstructed or altered, whether or not structurally extended, restored or repaired, except in conformity with all the requirements of this chapter applicable to the district in which it is located and, further, except that nothing in this chapter shall prevent the strengthening or restoration to safe condition of any wall or structural member declared unsafe by the Building Inspector.

A dimensionally nonconforming building or structure that is devoted to a conforming use may be enlarged, reconstructed, structurally altered, restored or repaired, in whole or in part, except that the degree of nonconformity shall not be increased.

An existing building or structure designed and used for a conforming use but located on a nonconforming lot, whether the building is conforming or nonconforming with respect to lot coverage and minimum yard requirements, may be reconstructed, structurally altered, restored or repaired, in whole or in part, except that the degree of nonconformity shall not be increased.

Reconstruction after disaster. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any structure or building substantially destroyed by fire or other disaster may be reconstructed or restored, provided that:

A nonconforming use shall be deemed to have been abandoned:

A nonconforming use that has been abandoned shall not thereafter be reinstated.

A nonconforming structure or nonconforming use may be subject to compulsory termination by the Town Board when it is found detrimental to the conservation of the value of surrounding land and improvements or to future development of surrounding lands and, therefore, is tending to deteriorate or blight the neighborhood.

In ordering the compulsory termination of a nonconforming structure or nonconforming use, the Town Board will establish a definite and reasonable amortization period, during which the nonconforming use may continue while the investment value remaining after the date of the termination order is amortized. Determination of the amount to be amortized shall be based on the value and condition of the land and improvements for the nonconforming use, less their value and condition for a conforming use, and such other reasonable costs as the termination may cause. The rate of amortization shall be in accordance with reasonable economic practice.

Anything to the contrary in this chapter notwithstanding, any nonconforming sign other than illuminated signs, wherever located, shall become an unlawful structure on December 31, 1974, and shall thereupon be removed. Nonconforming illuminated signs shall be permitted for the duration of their useful life but in no event after December 31, 1977. The owner of any such nonconforming signs who alleges that the period herein provided for the amortization of such sign is unreasonable as to his sign may apply to the Town Board for an extension of time for amortization of such sign.

Any existing sign of a flashing type shall be deemed an unlawful sign and shall either be removed or converted to a non-flashing type immediately. Such converted sign shall be removed by December 31, 1977, as set forth in this section for illuminated signs.