(Ordinances on this page are provided as a convenience. They are not official copies. An official copy of any
ordinance can be obtained through the township secretary at 814-288-1400 or supers@contwpsupers.us)

Conemaugh Township Zoning Ordinance

ARTICLE III - NON-CONFORMING USES

REWRITTEN AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCES 413, 414, 423, 442, 443, 555, 557, 560, 569, 569A, 582, 583, 593, AND 594, AND AS ACCEPTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1995 AND THE SUPERVISORS ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1995.

 

301 GENERAL TERMS ARE DEFINED

301.01 ALTERATIONS - As applied to a building or structure, any change or rearrangement in the total floor area, or an enlargement, whether by extending on a side or by increasing in height, or moving from one location or position to another.

301.02 ALTERATIONS, STRUCTURAL - Any change in or addition to the supporting or structural members of a building, such as bearing walls, partitions, columns, or girders; or any changes which will convert an existing building into a different structure, or adapt it to a different use, or any change which, in the case of a non- conforming use, would prolong the life of such use.

301.03 NONCONFORMING USE - A use which does not conform to the regulations of a district in which it is located.

301.04 NONCONFORMING BUILDING - A building or structure which does not conform to all the height, area, courts, and yard regulations of the district in which it is located.

301.05 NONCONFORMING SIGN - A sign which does not conform to the regulations of the district in which it is located.

302 GENERAL

302.01 The lawful use of land existing at the time of the adoption of this Ordinance, or of any amendment thereto, although such use does not conform to the provisions hereof, may be continued except as provided in 302.06, but if such nonconforming use is discontinued, any future use of said land shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance.

302.02 The lawful use of a building or structure, existing at the time of the adoption of this Ordinance, or of any amendment thereto, although such use does not conform to the provisions hereof, may be continued and such use may be extended throughout the building, provided no structural alterations are made, other than those ordered by an authorized public officer to assure the safety of the building; and provided further, that such extension does not displace any residence use in a residential district established by this Ordinance.

302.03 A non-conforming use of a building may be changed to another non-conforming use of the same or of a more restrictive classification, provided, no structural alterations are made, other than those ordered by an authorized public officer to assure the safety of the building, and provided further, that such extension does not displace any residential use in a residential district established by this Ordinance.

302.04 Whenever a non-conforming use of a building has been changed to a more restricted use or to a conforming use, such use shall not thereafter be changed to a less restricted use.

302.05 Whenever a non-conforming use of a building, or portion thereof, has been abandoned for a period of at least one (1) year, such non-conforming use shall not be thereafter reestablished, and the future use shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance.

302.06 Passage of this Ordinance is no way legalizes any illegal uses existing at the time of its adoption.

 

303 REGISTRATION OF NON-CONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES

303.01 All owners or operators of non-conforming uses and structures are required to obtain a certificate of non-conformance, showing identification of the property, type of use, kind or degree of non-conformance, length of time non-conformance has been in operation, and anticipated date of conversion (if any). Such certificate will be issued on request to the Zoning Officer.

303.02 The Zoning Officer shall keep in the Township offices an up-to-date register of non- conforming uses and structures.

 

304 PERMITTED NON-CONFORMING USES

304.01 Those persons who have received permits to carry on deep mining and strip mining of bituminous coal and who are actively conducting such mining operations in Conemaugh Township on the date of adoption of this Ordinance, and who are in compliance with the Bituminous Coal Mining Laws of Pennsylvania, shall be permitted to create waste piles on land owned by them, on which mining operations are being conducted on the date of adoption of this Ordinance, provided such waste piles shall be placed and maintained in compliance with all laws and regulations ofthe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal Government and their regulatory agencies, now in force or hereinafter enacted or promulgated. (Z.A. - 12/6/76)