Growing pains for Gyver Industries result in transitional zoning

Gyver Industries in Wellington is growing. And with that growth come some growing pains.

In 2003, Mark and Becky Muth, owners of the business located at 3704 Garfield Ave., received a home-occupation permit to operate their electrical business on the 1.7-acre parcel of land.

Gyver Industries now builds large-animal digester tanks and iron framework for oil field pumps, beyond what is allowed for a home occupation. Some work is done outdoors and, according to the neighbors, creates considerable noise.

On March 3, the Muths applied to the Wellington Planning Commission to rezone their workshop to light industrial. Properties to the south of them on First Street are currently zoned light industrial and transitional and the Muths asked that the light-industrial zoning be extended to include their property.

The applicants also requested that the single-family residence on the property be allowed to remain as a conditional use after rezoning.

Only one comment, which was favorable to the zoning change, was received at Town Hall prior to the Planning Commission meeting. However, because of concerns expressed by a group of about 20 neighbors at the March 3 meeting, the commission postponed a recommendation until March 17. At that time they approved transitional — but not light-industrial — zoning for the property. The commission’s recommendation went before the Board of Trustees for approval on March 25.

In order to comply with transitional status, Gyver Industries agreed to construct a substantial fence around the property, plant trees and add paved parking for several employees. The business must also abide by noise-level restrictions and limit working hours to between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Neighbors Arlene Schiffman and her husband, Kirk Alley, believe the restrictions placed on the way Gyver Industries conducts business are a good compromise and will alleviate neighbor concerns. They were among the people who attended the March 3 and 17 planning commission meetings.

“We want Gyver to prosper and grow,” said Alley, who works nights and was having trouble sleeping during the day because of the noise. “We just wanted them to put up a fence, clean up a bit and keep the noise down.”

Becky Muth called the planning commission’s recommendation “a nice compromise.” She said she is looking forward to hosting a Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce After Hours event at their business site in the near future.

On March 20, Mark Muth began installing a residential-style 6-foot vinyl fence that is compatible with the neighborhood. “The fence height is a compromise also,” Becky said. The originally-planned 8-foot fence would have had a more industrial feel.”