The provisions of this chapter, and all subsequent amendments thereto, shall be interpreted to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the health, safety, morals, or the general welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts. The provisions of this chapter are not intended to repeal, amend, abrogate, annul, or in any way impair or interfere with any lawfully adopted ordinance, covenants, regulations, or rules. Whenever the regulations made under the authority hereof differ from those prescribed by any statute, ordinance, or other regulations, that provision which imposes the greater restriction or the higher standard shall govern.

Except as herein provided, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, or use of buildings, structures, or use of land. Except as herein provided, any existing conforming use, structure, or lot shall not by any action become nonconforming and any existing nonconforming use, structure, or lot shall not become further nonconforming.

This chapter shall not apply to existing buildings or structures, nor to the existing use of any building or structure or of land, to the extent to which it is legally used at the time of adoption of this chapter, but it shall apply to any change of use thereof and to any alteration of a building or structure when the same would amount to reconstruction, extension or structural change, and to any alteration of a building or structure to provide for its use for a purpose or in a manner substantially different from the use to which it was put before alteration, or for its use for the same purpose to a substantially greater extent.[1]