Lucky Bones, AK Athletic plan major expansions

ThisWeek CW 07/18/2013

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2013/07/16/canal-pointe-lucky-bones-ak-athletic-plan-major-expansions.html

The Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission gave its approval last week to expansion plans for two businesses, one of which will move to the city from Pickerington.

Lucky Bones Inc. received approval to move forward with a full-service dog care facility and AK Athletic Equipment Inc. received the OK for a development plan that includes a 6,400-square-foot addition.

Lucky Bones Inc. owners, Pat and Kelly Santarelli, said the business has outgrown its 3,000-square-foot Pickerington facility, which is what prompted their planned move to Canal Winchester.

In January, the Santarellis came before the planning commission to propose moving their growing business to the Canal Pointe Industry & Commerce Park. At that time, they received positive feedback regarding the potential relocation and were told to submit their development plans when they were ready to move forward.

At the commission’s July 8 meeting, they received approval for a new 5,500-square-foot facility to be located on about an acre at 8200 Howe Industrial Parkway.

Canal Winchester Development Director Lucas Haire said Lucky Bones will bring nine full-time and 11 part-time employees. The Santarellis hope to hire more people in coming years.

“We need to expand and that means expanding the facility, but also, it’ll mean doubling the employees to 25 to 30 people,” Kelly Santarelli said.

The new facility will provide dog boarding, grooming, daycare and a tenant area for Buckeye K-9 to conduct dog training.

“Right now, we’re a dog boarding and daycare facility and we can house up to 50 dogs, but we’re looking to double that with the new facility,” she said.

The Santarellis hope to break ground for the building this fall and would like to be open by next spring.

The planning commission also gave its approval July 8 to a development plan for AK Athletic, also located in the Canal Pointe Industry & Commerce Park.

AK Athletic wants to expand its existing business offerings, primarily related to the manufacture of athletic mats, with a new 6,400-square-foot addition.

“The new building area will match the existing one and will allow the business to expand into new product offerings with the additional space,” Haire said.

The Canal Pointe Industry & Commerce Park developer, Dublin Building Systems, will be responsible for construction for both these projects.