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SECTION 5.0 NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
5.1 APPLICABILITY. This By-law shall not apply to structures or uses lawfully in existence or
lawfully begun, or to a building or special permit issued before the first publication of notice of the
public hearing required by G.L. c. 40A, s. 5 at which this By-law, or any relevant part thereof, was
adopted. Such prior, lawfully existing nonconforming uses and structures may continue, provided that
no modification of the use or structure is accomplished, unless authorized hereunder. 5.2 NONCONFORMING USES. The Zoning Board of Appeals may award a special permit to
change a nonconforming use in accordance with this Section only if it determines that such change or
extension shall not be substantially more detrimental than the existing nonconforming use to the
neighborhood. 5.2.1 Permissible Changes. The following types of changes to nonconforming uses may be considered
by the Zoning Board of Appeals:
1. Change or substantial extension of the use;
2. Change from one nonconforming use to another, less detrimental, nonconforming
use. 5.3 NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES. The Zoning Board of Appeals may award a special permit
to reconstruct, extend, alter, or change a nonconforming structure in accordance with this Section only
if it determines that such reconstruction, extension, alteration, or change shall not be substantially more
detrimental than the existing nonconforming structure to the neighborhood. 5.3.1 Permissible Changes. The following types of changes to nonconforming structures may be
considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals:
1. Reconstructed, extended or structurally changed;
2. Altered to provide for a substantially different purpose or for the same purpose
in a substantially different manner or to a substantially greater extent. 5.4 VARIANCE REQUIRED.