Precision Pilates Gets Conditional Use Permit

The Planning Commission for Rancho Santa Margarita had a light agenda on Wednesday, and the entire meeting lasted fewer than 50 minutes.

Its first order of business was to elect a new planning commissioner, and Peter Whittingham, who served in a secondary role to Jack Leonard for the past year, took over the center seat on the dais. Brad McGirr was selected the assistant chairman of the commission.

Four of the commissioners just completed their first year of service. Leonard, one of the city's original planning commissioners, was the only holdover.

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Under Whittingham's guidance, the commission then granted a conditional use permit to Precision Pilates, which has downsized in the Mercado del Lago. Moving into the new location, which used to be a yogurt shop, has benefited the business, said co-owner Brian Harper, who moved his studio to the space between Wings and Legends Hairstyling. The space is 1,000 square feet, as opposed ot the 2,100 square foot studio he and his partner, ex-wife Jill Harper, had previously.

Precision Pilates was in Mission Viejo for six years and in RSM for three, but by moving the studio and not taking a "bigger is better" approach, the Harpers dropped their monthly rent from $9,600 to $3,600.

"We get five times the foot traffic than when were next to the post office in the Mercado," Brian Harper said.

It was all a matter of survival. Precision Pilates did away with a receptionist, cut back from nine trainers to four, and found that the studio is more active and vibrant.

Their innovation in putting the space to use to keep the business afloat and in Rancho Santa Margarita drew praise from commissioner Kent Hayden.

"I'm impressed that you found ways to make it work," Hayden said. "It speaks to your entrepreneurial spirit and that's what we need in RSM."