By the passage of this article, no presently illegal use shall be deemed to have been legalized unless such use specifically falls within a use district where the actual use is a conforming use. Otherwise, such uses shall remain nonconforming uses where recognized, or an illegal use, as the case may be. It is further the intent and declared purpose of this article than no offense committed and no liability, penalty or forfeiture, either civil or criminal, incurred prior to the time the existing zoning ordinance was amended in its entirety by this article, shall be discharged or affected by such repeal; but prosecution and suits for such offenses, liabilities, penalties, or forfeitures may be instituted or causes presently pending may be proceeded with in all respects as if such prior ordinance had not been amended.