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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY <br />OPINION NO. 75-12 <br />May 2, 1975 <br />SUBJECT: Maintenance of Legal Nonconforming Uses <br />Under S.A.M.C. Section 41-686 <br />REQUESTED BY: Planning Department <br />OPINION BY: Charles J. Liberto, Acting City <br />Attorney <br />BY: Richard E. Lay, Deputy City Attorney <br />QUESTION: Does S.A.M.C. Section 41-686 prohibit a <br />landowner, in the absence of a variance, <br />from maintaining a repair garage on a <br />lot in the CD use district where he <br />intends to use another portion of the <br />same lot for professional offices? <br />ANSWER: No. S.A.M.C. Section 41-686 is unenforceable. <br />It requires a showing that the additional <br />use is a "use of a more restricted classifi- <br />cation" than the non-conforming use in order <br />to be applied, but the phrase "use of a more <br />restricted classification" is so vague and <br />ambiguous as to preclude any such showing. <br />ANALYSIS <br />Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-686 reads as <br />follows: <br />"Sec. 41-686. Additional buildings on lots of <br />nonconforming use. <br />While a nonconforming use exists on any lot no <br />other use of a more restricted classification shall be per- <br />mitted even though such other use would otherwise be con- <br />forming." <br />In the present factual situatiox~~, the landowner <br />owns a lot in the CD use district. A porti.oz~ of the lot <br />is presently used as a repair garage. Thi.~ ~~se is not per- <br />mitted by the CD district use. restrictica~=~~ `gut is nevertheless <br /> <br />~-45- <br />