Except as provided in this section, nothing herein shall require any change in the plans, construction or designated use of a building or structure for which a building permit has been lawfully issued prior to or, under the circumstances noted below, within 60 days after the effective date of this chapter, provided that the proposed use complies with the use requirements of this chapter, and further provided that construction shall begin within six months of the date of such permit; the foundation or 15% of the construction valuation shall be completed within one year of the date of such permit; and the entire building or structure shall be completed within two years of the date of such permit.

In addition, if the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Buildings determines that an application, with accompanying construction plans, for a building permit filed prior to the effective date of this chapter meets all requirements of the Zoning Ordinance in existence as of the date immediately prior to the effective date of this chapter, has received all necessary conditional or final approvals by the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Appeals or other authorized approving agency, and complies with the use requirements of this chapter, then the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Buildings shall issue all necessary permits within a reasonable time, but not longer than 60 days from such date, provided that the applicant has taken all steps deemed necessary by the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Buildings to obtain such permit.

Any of the above periods may be increased up to 50% by the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Buildings on a showing of good cause.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Buildings may require any such plans, construction or use to be subject to the site plan approval procedures as set forth in Article IX of this chapter and to be modified to comply with the requirements of this chapter to the extent that the agency authorized to approve such a site plan determines such compliance to be reasonable and practical.

By Local Law No. 6 of the Year 2008 the City of Yonkers has adopted the Compact Plan, as amended from time to time, as a statement of policies, principles, and guides to supplement

Other established land use policies in the City. In its discretionary actions under this zoning code, the reviewing agency should take into consideration said statement of policies, principles and guides, as appropriate.