SPANISH FORK — Nina Isaacson would like to move home with her family, but that's not going to happen for at least a few months.
On Tuesday, the Spanish Fork City Council turned down Isaacson's application to rezone her acupuncture clinic to allow a residential office use.
Isaacson is operating the clinic at 885 N. 200 East under a home-occupation permit, which requires that she live on the premises.
Her family maintains a home in Woodland Hills, where she vacations every weekend.
"I do everything I can to live by the letter of the law," Isaacson said, "so that's what I do. We took a gamble when we bought the place (in August) that we could get the zone changed."
Meanwhile, city leaders are proposing to change the general plan along 900 North to allow commercial uses, a process that could take months.
Isaacson's husband designed a commercial site plan with three parking spaces to encourage the zone change, which came close to conforming to city standards, city planner Dave Andersen said.
However, Councilman Richard Davis favored waiting for the general plan review and made the motion to reject Isaacson's rezoning application. Davis said he would prefer the area be rezoned to allow commercial offices rather than residential offices.
"I would like to move home with my family," Isaacson said, undaunted.
The vote was 3-2 denying Isaacson's application and keeping her living at the acupuncture clinic for the near future. Isaacson said she respects the decision, as well as the councilmen who voted against her application, and recognizes they were doing what they were elected to do.
"I totally get that," she said.
Meanwhile, the clinic is a great place for her kids' sleepovers and parties when she isn't practicing, Isaacson said.
"I have two kids in junior high, and they walk over after school," she said. "It's OK, and it will all work out."
e-mail: rodger@desnews.com