21-101.  Nonconformities are of three types: nonconforming lots of record, nonconforming structures and nonconforming uses.  Regulations governing nonconforming manufactured homes are set forth at Section 21-5.  Types of nonconformities are defined as follows:

a.    Nonconforming lots of record:  Means an unimproved lot which is part of a recorded subdivision or a parcel of land, the deed to which was recorded with the Kearny County Register of Deeds prior to the appropriate city’s or county’s original adoption of zoning regulations and neither said lot nor parcel complies with the lot width and/or area requirements for the district in which it is located.

b.    Nonconforming structure:  Means an existing structure which does not comply with the lot coverage, height or yard requirements which are applicable to new structures in the zoning district in which the structure is located.

c.    Nonconforming use:  Means an existing, lawful use of a structure or land which does not comply with the use regulations applicable to new uses in the zoning district in which it is located.

21-201.  The Zoning Administrator may issue a zoning certificate for any nonconforming lot of record, provided that:

a.    The lot is shown by a recorded plat or deed to have been owned separately and individually from adjoining tracts of land at a time when the creation of a lot of such size and width at such location would not have been prohibited by any zoning regulations, and

b.    The lot has remained in separate and individual ownership from adjoining tracts of land continuously during the entire time that the creation of such lot has been prohibited by the applicable zoning regulations, and

c.    The lot can meet all yard regulations for the district in which it is located.

21-301.    

a.    Authority to continue.  Any structure that is devoted to a use which is permitted in the zoning district in which it is located, but which is located on a lot which does not comply with the applicable intensity of use regulations and/or the applicable yard and height regulations, may be continued, so long as it remains otherwise lawful.

b.    Enlargement, repair, alterations.  Any nonconforming principal structure may be enlarged, maintained, repaired or remodeled.  No such enlargement, maintenance, repair or remodeling shall either create any additional nonconformity or increase the degree of existing nonconformity of all or any part of such structure.  An enlargement which does not, in the Zoning Administrator’s determination, extend the nonconformity beyond the existing nonconformity shall not be an additional nonconformity or an increase in the degree of nonconformity.

c.    Damage or destruction.  In the event that any nonconforming principal structure is damaged or destroyed, by any means, to the extent of more than fifty (50) percent of its fair market value, such structure shall not be restored unless it shall thereafter conform to the regulations for the zoning district in which it is located. 

d.    Moving.  No nonconforming structure shall be moved in whole or in part for any distance whatever, to any other location on the same lot or any other lot unless the entire structure shall thereafter conform to the regulations of the zoning district in which it is located after being moved.

21-401.    

a.    Authority to continue.  Any nonconforming use of part or all of a structure or any lawfully existing nonconforming use of land which was lawful and in existence at the effective date of these regulations and does not involve a structure or only involves a structure which is accessory to such use of land, may be continued, so long as otherwise lawful and so long as it is not specified to be terminated by these regulations.        

b.    Ordinary repair and maintenance.       

1.    Normal maintenance and incidental repair, or replacement, installation or relocation of nonbearing walls, nonbearing partitions, fixtures, wiring or plumbing, may be performed on any structure that is devoted in whole or in part to a nonconforming use. 

2.    Nothing in these regulations shall be deemed to prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of a structure in accordance with an order of a public official who is charged with protecting the public safety and who declares such structure to be unsafe and orders its restoration to a safe condition.

c.    Extension.  A nonconforming use shall not be extended, expanded, enlarged, or increased in intensity.  Such prohibited activities shall include, without being limited to the following:

1.    Extension of such use to any structure or land area other than that actually physically occupied by such nonconforming use on the effective date of these regulations or on the effective date of subsequent amendments to these regulations that cause such use to become nonconforming.  Provided however, a one-time extension not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the floor area of a structure or surface area of land shall be allowed.

2.    Extension of such use within a building or other structure to any portion of the floor area that was not actually physically occupied by such nonconforming use on the effective date of these regulations or on the effective date of subsequent amendments to these regulations that cause such use to become nonconforming; provided, however, that such use may be extended throughout any part of such building or other structure that is found by the Zoning Administrator to have been lawfully and manifestly designed or constructed for such use on such effective date.

d.    Damage or destruction.  In the event that any structure that is devoted in whole or in part to a nonconforming use is damaged or destroyed, by any means, to the extent of more than fifty (50) percent of its fair market value, such structure shall not be restored unless such structure and the use thereof shall thereafter conform to all regulations of the zoning district in which it is located. 

e.    Moving.  No structure that is devoted in whole or in part to a nonconforming use and no nonconforming use of land shall be moved in whole or in part for any distance whatever, to any other location on the same or any other lot, unless the entire structure and the use thereof or the use of land shall thereafter conform to all regulations of the zoning district in which it is located after being so moved.

f.     Change in use.  Any change in use from nonconforming use to a different nonconforming use is prohibited.

g.    Abandonment or discontinuance.  When a nonconforming use is discontinued or abandoned for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, such use shall not thereafter be reestablished or resumed, and any subsequent use or occupancy of such land or buildings shall comply with the regulations of the zoning district in which such land is located.

h.    Nonconforming accessory uses.  No nonconforming use which is accessory to a principal nonconforming use shall continue after the cessation or termination of the principal nonconforming use.

21-501.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 21-502, the removal and relocation of nonresidential-design manufactured homes in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 Districts shall be governed by the following regulations:

a.    Upon removal of a nonconforming manufactured home, unless another manufactured home is moved onto the same lot in accordance with Section 21-502, such use is discontinued and shall not thereafter be reestablished.

b.    Any manufactured home moved in accordance with a. above shall be placed on a permanent, enclosed perimeter foundation within thirty (30) days from the date it is moved onto the lot.

c.    No manufactured home shall be moved onto the lot if such will result in an increase in nonconformity with respect to lot size, yard or bulk requirements. 

d.    No manufactured home shall be moved onto the lot if its location shall place it within twenty feet (20') of a principal building or ten feet (10') of an accessory building.

e.    Upon proper application the Board of Zoning Appeals may grant an exception to the time requirements of subsections a. and b. above upon a finding by the Board of hardship for the party who would reside in the manufactured home upon its relocation.

21-502      Relocation of a nonresidential-design manufactured home as a replacement for another such home, when located on property in actual use as a manufactured home park, but not zoned as such, as of the effective date of these regulations, is allowed in accordance with the following regulations:

a.    No such home may be placed within fifteen feet (15’) of another such home.

b.    Any such replacement home: (1) must have a date of manufacturing no more than 20 years prior to the date of its placement, and (2) must be moved on to the same lot within ninety (90) calendar days from the date that the previous home was moved off the lot.  The Board of Zoning Appeals may grant an exception to the time requirements of this subsection upon a finding by the Board of hardship for the party who would reside in the home upon its relocation.