The turf farm was greener first.

Phillips' Turf Farm has been in business in Orem at its location at 417 W. 1165 North for 22 years.

Regent Court condominiums have been in place for 11 years.

But the residents of the Regent Court Home Owners Association still think Garn Phillips should set his hours and run his business to suit their schedules.

"Last summer, it was unbearable," said Nicki Storkus, who lives directly behind the turf farm.

"I like to barbecue with friends and you can't hear, you can't breathe, the dust is bad. It's just so disruptive to have semitrucks and forklifts going when you have company."

Storkus said she also has a young child who's often disturbed by the noise and commotion from the farm, as early as 6:55 a.m.

Storkus and Charles Spence, along with others representing the 17 families who live in Regent Court, filed an appeal with Orem city to deny a request from Phillips for conditional use.

Spence said while he wants a win-win outcome between Phillips and the neighbors, "we're real close" and are deeply affected by the business operation.

The city's planning commissioners approved Phillips' site plan at its March 1 meeting providing a 7-foot masonry fence is installed along the west property line between the farm and the residents' common area.

Phillips has sold sod from that farm for years but requested only temporary site plan approval each year until now.

The residents asked that Phillips be forced to have the fence up in 30-60 days.

At the council meeting Tuesday, Phillips said the fence will be expensive and probably can't be put up that soon because of brick-masons' busy summer schedules.

The association also wanted Phillips' operating hours restricted, from 7 a.m. only until 5 p.m. during the week and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on either Saturday or Sunday, but not both.

Phillips had proposed a seven-day work week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Neighbors say he often has the yard open until as late as 10 p.m.

The City Council voted to allow the farm 12-hour workdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. except Sundays, when he would operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Currently, Phillips is closed on Sunday.

The residents also wanted a paved turnaround for delivery trucks and limits on how much Phillips could store on his property.

The council asked only for washed gravel on the turnarounds, agreed he could take a year to build his fence and consider Sunday his weekend day for shorter hours.

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Storkus said the decision will force her to move and "I'm probably never going to buy a home in Orem again. There's no security.

"I knew before that the city planning left something to be desired. But this is just ridiculous. Anyplace else you go . . . that's a very compelling reason (incom-pat-ibility with neighborhood), but not here."

Storkus said she appreciated the City Council's willingness to listen when the Planning Commission did not.

But she's disappointed with the outcome. "I appreciate that he's trying to run a business, but your rights stop where mine begin," she said.

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