Planning Commission OK's Tutoring Center and Martial Arts Studio

Rancho Santa Margarita may get a little smarter later this summer. A little tougher, too.

The Planning Commission for RSM on Wednesday gave the OK to establish a learning center in the Dove Canyon Plaza and a martial arts studio in Plaza Antonio.

A conditional use permit was sought by Antoinette Holguin Mosley, who will own the Academic Learning Labs designed to tutor and mentor students of all ages, including adults.

She hopes to have the new business up and running “by the middle of August," she said, "in time for school.”

Although teaching will be done on the site, it will serve as a home base for tutors who will also teach in homes. After the meeting, Mosley said that picking up elementary students after school is something that is being considered as well.

“We got this idea because my granddaughter is in the second grade and she has so much homework,” said Mosley, who previously owned 16 preschools in the Inland Empire. “Someone needs to help those kids. This is something we’re doing in our retirement.”

The learning center will go into the space previously occupied by Warrior Heart, the personal training and martial arts business that relocated in October.

The new business received a ringing endorsement from its business neighbors, including Dog Daycare at Grandma’s House and the Dove Canyon Courtyard. The plaza includes Friends Sports Tavern and Gold’s Gym.

Most discussion centered around the parking limitations in the center, although it doesn't appear to be a problem, said business neighbors Kate Cannan of the Dog Daycare and Kenny Hrabik of Dove Canyon Courtyard. The commissioners agreed to limit the business to 48 occupants, figuring 16 teachers and 32 students present at any one time.

Another prospective business that got the OK was Shin’s A+ Tae Kwon Do, which will locate in Plaza Antonio in Suite B-190. According to the owner, who previously operated a business in Laguna Hills and currently owns a studio in Corona, classes would be offered four times a day for 45 minutes, with 10 to 15 students in each class, and at least 15 minutes between each class.

The studio will occupy a space previously used by Bears, Buddies and Toys.

The five commissioners, Jack Leonard, Peter Whittingham, Richard Eakin, Brad McGirr and Kent Hayden, were in unanimous agreement throughout the meeting.

In other business:

• The commission approved a wireless antenna for Verizon be installed inside existing architectural towers in the Mercado del Lago shopping center.
• It also approved a resolution recommending the City Council adopt a Zoning Code Text Amendment to modify regulations related to fencing, temporary banner signs and wireless communication facilities within the park zoning district. The commissioners agreed that different standards for different parks based on various factors, as determined by SAMLARC, made sense. Also, differences between local residents—primarily near Trabuco Mesa Park—and SAMLARC as it related to temporary banner signs should be hammered out between the master association and the residents.