Paws on Tap: Civil Engineering Supports On-Time Opening in Whitestown, Indiana
Updated: 8 hours ago
How Etica Group helped a first-time entrepreneur navigate a site relocation, accelerated design schedule and complex development approvals to bring a new community destination to life.
Bringing a New Gathering Place to Whitestown
Paws on Tap is a dog-friendly, 21+ self-pour taproom, restaurant and beer garden in Whitestown, Indiana. The destination features 39 self-pour taps, a food menu and indoor and outdoor gathering spaces where guests can relax with friends and their dogs.
Bringing this vision to life required more than a creative concept. It required careful site planning, infrastructure design, municipal coordination and a team prepared to respond to unexpected challenges.
Etica Group served as the civil engineering consultant, providing site development expertise and guidance throughout the design and approval process.
The Challenge: A New Site Without a New Deadline
During the design phase, the Paws on Tap project was relocated to a different site. This significant change required the project team to restart planning and municipal review activities while maintaining the original spring 2026 opening target.
The relocation created an accelerated design schedule and introduced additional coordination requirements.
As the project progressed, unforeseen site conditions, coordination with adjacent properties and construction delays added complexity. Critical site and utility work extended into the winter months, with foundation activities occurring in February. Holiday schedules and prolonged cold weather created further challenges.
Throughout these changes, the project team remained focused on achieving the client's opening goal.
Our Solution: Responsive Civil Engineering and Site Development
Etica Group provided comprehensive civil engineering services to support the development, including:
Site Grading and Drainage: Site grading, underground stormwater detention and water-quality design.
Utility Design and Coordination: Sanitary sewer, natural gas, electric and water service planning.
Stormwater Management: Drainage infrastructure and stormwater solutions tailored to the site's requirements.
Permitting: Stormwater, sanitary sewer, water and erosion-control permitting support.
Municipal Coordination: Collaboration with the Town of Whitestown Planning Department, including participation in Planning Commission (PLC) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings.
Our team worked closely with the client, architect, landscape architect, developer and local agencies to address evolving project needs and support timely decision-making.
More Than Engineering: Guiding a First-Time Entrepreneur
For Chad Johnson, Paws on Tap was his first entrepreneurial venture. Navigating the technical and regulatory requirements of commercial site development was a new experience.
Etica Group recognized the importance of providing guidance beyond traditional engineering deliverables.
Throughout the project, our team served as a trusted resource, answering questions, explaining development requirements and helping Chad understand the steps involved in replatting, drainage design, permitting and municipal approvals.
This collaborative approach helped the client make informed decisions while keeping the project moving toward its opening goal.
The Outcome: An On-Time Opening and Lasting Partnerships
Despite the site relocation, accelerated design schedule, winter construction challenges and additional coordination requirements, Paws on Tap successfully opened on schedule in spring 2026.
Today, the business offers Whitestown and surrounding communities a distinctive destination for dining, gathering and spending time with their four-legged companions.
Building Success Through Partnership
At Etica Group, successful projects are measured by more than completed engineering plans. They are measured by the relationships we build, the challenges we help solve and the outcomes we help our clients achieve. Paws on Tap demonstrates the value of combining technical expertise with proactive communication, flexibility and a genuine commitment to client success.
