HomeMy WebLinkAboutSection9amendmentarticle SECTION 9 NON-CONFORMING USES
9.1 Non-Conforming Uses
Any non-conforming building, structure, or use as defined herein, which lawfully existed at the time
of passage of the applicable provision of this or any prior by Law or any amendment thereto may be
continued subject to the provisions of this Bylaw. Any lawfully non-conforming building or
structure and any lawfully non-conforming use of building or land may be continued in the same
kind and manner and to the same extent as at the time it became lawfully non-conforming, but such
building or use shall not at any time be changed, extended or enlarged except for a purpose permitted
in the zoning district in which such building or use is situated, or except as may be permitted by a
Special Permit or otherwise by the North Andover Board of Appeals. Pre-existing non-conforming
structures or uses,however,may be extended or altered, provided that no such extension or alteration
shall be permitted unless there is a finding by the Board of Appeals that such change, extension, or
alteration shall not be substantially more detrimental than the existing non- conforming use to the
neighborhood.
When a pre-existing structure has been made non-conforming due to changes in the lot size required
by this bylaw, such structure may be extended or altered based on a finding by the Zoning
Enforcement Officer that such structure after the change meets all current zoning requirements
except for lot size. (1995/43)
9.2 Alteration or Extension
A use or structure housing a use, which does not conform to the regulations of this Bylaw but which
did conform to all applicable regulations when initially established shall not be changed, extended or
enlarged except in accordance with the following provisions:
1. Such change shall be approved by a Special Permit or otherwise by the Board of Appeals.
2. Such change shall be permitted only upon the same lot occupied by the non-conforming use
on the date that it became non-conforming.
3. Any increase in volume, area, or extent of the non- conforming use shall not exceed an
aggregate of more than twenty five percent(25%)of the original use.
4. No change shall be permitted which tends to lengthen the economic life of the
non-conforming longer than a period reasonable for the amortization of the initial
investment.
9.3 Pre-Existing Non-conforming Single Family Residential Structures and Uses
in the Residential 1, Residential 2, Residential 3, Residential 4 and Residential 6
Districts:
a. Pre-existing Non-conforming Single Family Structures: Pre-existing non-
conforming single family residential structures in the R1, R2, R3, R4 and R6 Districts,
may be changed, extended or altered, provided that there is a finding by the Zoning
Enforcement Officer (Building Commissioner) that such change, extension, or alteration
shall not render the structure more non-conforming than the existing structure. Upon such
determination, a building permit may be issued where applicable. The following
circumstances shall be deemed not to increase the nonconforming nature of said
structure:
1.Alteration of a structure which complies with all current yard setbacks, building
coverage, and building height requirements but is located on a lot with
insufficient area, where the structure after alteration will comply with all of
current Bylaw requirements except for lot area.
2.Alteration to a structure which complies will all current yard setbacks,
building coverage, and building height requirements but is located on a lot with
insufficient frontage, where the structure after alteration will comply with all of
current Bylaw requirements except for frontage.
3.Alteration to a structure which encroaches upon one or more required yard
setbacks, where the structure after alteration will comply with all current bylaw
requirements except for yard setbacks (the provisions of this clause shall apply
regardless of whether the lot complies with current area and frontage
requirements).
4.Alteration of a structure which encroaches upon one or more required yard
setbacks, where the altered part of the structure will comply with all current yard
setbacks, or the alteration is to the side or face of the structure which encroaches
upon a required yard setback, and the alteration does not further encroach upon
the required yard setback. In either case, the altered structure must comply with
current building coverage and building height requirements (the provisions of
this clause shall apply regardless of whether the lot complies with current area
and frontage requirements).
5.Alteration to a nonconforming structure which will not increase the footprint of the
existing structure provided that existing height restrictions shall not be exceeded.
In the event that the Zoning Enforcement Officer (Building Commissioner) determines
that the nonconforming nature of such structure would be increased by the proposed
extension, alteration, or change, the Zoning Board of Appeals may, by special permit,
allow such extension, alteration, or change where it determines that the proposed
modification will not be substantially more detrimental than the existing nonconforming
structure to the neighborhood.
b. Pre-existing Nonconforming Single Family Structures: No portion of this
Section 9.3, Pre-Existing Non-Conforming Single Family Structures and Uses in the
Residential 1, Residential 2, Residential 3, Residential 4 and Residential 6 Zoning
Districts shall be construed to allow for any uses other than those expressly allowed as
defined in each above listed zoning district of the Zoning Bylaw.
9.4 Building After Catastrophe
Any non-conforming building or structure destroyed or damaged by fire, flood, lightning,
earthquake or wind to the extent of sixty-five percent (65%) or more of its reproduction cost at the
time of such damage shall not be rebuilt, repaired, reconstructed nor altered except for a purpose
permitted in that zoning district in which such building is located, or except as may be permitted by a
Special Permit or otherwise by the Board of Appeals acting under Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 40A.
9.5 Abandonment
If any lawfully non-conforming building or use of a building or land be at any time
discontinued for a period of two years or more, or if such use or building be changed to one
conforming with the North Andover Zoning Bylaw in the district in which it is located, it shall
thereafter continue to conform; or take any other action relative thereto