Any and all buildings which lawfully existed or are permitted as nonconforming buildings at the time of the enactment of this chapter, and any and all uses of premises which lawfully existed or were permitted as nonconforming uses at the time of the enactment of this chapter, and which such buildings or uses are expressly or impliedly no longer permitted, may be continued except as otherwise provided herein.

If any nonconforming building or building housing a nonconforming use, except a single-family dwelling, is destroyed by any means to an extent greater than 50% of its entire replacement value at current market costs for construction and type of use, no repairs or reconstruction shall be made unless every portion of such building is made to conform to all the regulations of this chapter for the district in which it is located. Where the destruction of such nonconforming building or building housing a nonconforming use is less than 50% of such replacement value, or where the destruction is of a single-family dwelling regardless of the percent destroyed, it may be restored and the nonconforming use continued, provided that the nonconformity is not enlarged, expanded or intensified, and further provided that such restoration is started within a period of six months of such destruction and is diligently prosecuted to completion. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any structural member of a building declared to be unsafe by the Building Inspector.

In addition to other remedies provided by law, any violation of the provisions of this chapter will result in automatic termination of the right to continue the nonconforming use.

In order that nonconforming uses may gradually be brought into greater conformity with the requirements of this chapter and the adverse external effects of such nonconforming uses may be reduced, the Building Inspector shall, on a continuing basis, review each nonconforming use and propose to the Planning Board plans whereby, through landscaped screening and buffer areas; through control of noise, smoke, odors, dust or lighting; through minor architectural changes; through changes in the location and layout of parking areas and access drives; or through other appropriate means, such purposes may be achieved. Such accepted plans shall be presented to the owners of the properties where the nonconforming uses are located. In the interest of promoting better community development, such owners shall be encouraged to voluntarily bring such use into compliance with all or part of such plans.

Motor vehicle repair shops, outdoor storage establishments and outdoor sales establishments existing as nonconforming uses in any district are considered to be especially detrimental to thecharacter of the neighborhood and to adversely affect property values therein. Accordingly, any such shop or establishment existing as a nonconforming use shall, in addition to all other applicable requirements of this Code, fully comply with the following requirements of this chapter not later than one year after the date of enactment thereof:

The Zoning Board of Appeals may, after public hearing on the written verified application of the owner of property claiming a legal nonconforming use thereon, confirm such use by determining that such use is, in fact, a legal nonconforming use or structure.