The regulations in this ordinance shall be subject to the following interpretations and exceptions:

1.

Essential services. Essential services shall be permitted as authorized and regulated by law and other ordinances by law and other ordinances of the city, it being the intention hereof to exempt such essential services from the application of this ordinance.

2.

Voting place. The provisions of this ordinance shall not be so construed as to interfere with the temporary use of any property as a voting place in connection with a municipal or other public election.

3.

Height limit. The height limitations of this ordinance shall not apply to chimneys, church spires, flag poles, public monuments or wireless transmission towers; provided however, that the board of appeals may specify a height limit for any such structure when such structure requires authorization as a conditional use.

4.

Lots adjoining alleys. In calculating the area of a lot that adjoins an alley for the purpose of applying lot area requirements of this ordinance, one-half the width of such alley abutting the lot shall be considered as part of such lot.

5.

Yard regulations. When yard regulations cannot reasonably be complied with, or where their application cannot be determined on lots of peculiar shape, topography or due to architectural or site arrangement, such regulations may be modified or determined by the board of appeals.

6.

Projections into required open spaces.

a.

An open, unenclosed, and uncovered porch or paved terrace may project into a front yard for a distance not exceeding ten feet, but this shall not be interpreted to include or permit fixed canopies.

b.

Architectural features, not including vertical projections, may extend or project into a required yard not more than four inches for each one foot of width of such side yard; and may extend or project into a required front yard or rear yard not more than three feet.

7.

Lot area. Any lot existing and of record on the effective date of this ordinance may be used for any principal use permitted in the district in which such lot is located, other than conditional uses for which special lot area requirements are specified in this ordinance whether or not such lot complies with the lot area requirements of this ordinance except as provided in sec. 1702, (2), Nonconforming Uses. Such use may be made provided that all requirements other than lot area requirements prescribed in this ordinance are complied with, and provided that not more than one dwelling unit shall occupy any lot except in conformance with the provisions of this ordinance for required lot area for each dwelling unit.