BuySeasons plans major expansion in New Berlin
Some neighbors worried about traffic, aesthetics if plan is OK'd
New Berlin — The city's largest employer hopes to expand its headquarters by more than 30 percent next year.
The city's Plan Commission opened discussion on BuySeasons Inc.'s expansion during a public hearing Monday, but tabled any action on the project until its Oct. 4 meeting.
BuySeasons, an online retailer of costumes and party supplies, has made New Berlin its home since it was founded in 1999. The corporate headquarters now occupies a 360,000-square-foot building along South Moorland Road, and the company wants to add 130,000 square feet on the north side of the property along Small Road.
The company employs more than 500 people year-round and more than 2,200 during its peak season, from August to October.
CEO and founder Jalem Getz said the expansion would add more jobs in all divisions of the company-management, distribution, the call center and manufacturing.
Not masking their concerns
But most neighbors who spoke at Monday's hearing want to make sure they won't have to pay a price for the firm's expansion.
Several neighbors spoke against the expansion, expressing concerns about additional lights and traffic onto Small Road. Many trucks and cars exit BuySeasons onto Small and College roads because they cannot turn left onto Moorland Road.
Developer Willow Tree Development LLC performed a traffic study that showed there would be no need to add more lanes to any of the adjacent roads, but neighbors were still wary.
"I've lived off of College Road for 16 years, and it's getting more and more difficult for me to get out of my driveway," said Alicia Jetzer.
Because BuySeasons plans to add 350 more parking spaces, some neighbors were concerned about the company's landscaping plan and overall aesthetics.
"The trees they plant there are not going to be blocking the expansion for years," said Joe Russ, who lives on Shadow Drive, off Small Road. "Meanwhile, we have to look at it. I don't think this is fair for anyone on Small Road."
Conciliatory support too
One neighbor spoke in favor of the plan.
"This type of development makes sense in this city, where you develop close to the big roads and away from the large residential developments," said Jason Radish, who lives on Small Road.
Plan commissioners told the developer that they would like to see the neighbors' concerns addressed.
"The residents were there first, and they have a right to their voice," said Commissioner Marta Broge. "I hope the parties can work together to accommodate both the business and the residents."
Options to consider
In addition to the headquarters in New Berlin, the company also has a smaller facility near Seattle. Getz said that while BuySeasons would like to expand its facility in New Berlin, it is also looking into expansion options in other states.
Getz said because BuySeasons' busy season starts in August, the company wants to complete its expansion by July 2011.
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I agree with the previous poster that traffic will be impacted more by the opening of the Super Walmart than the expansion of BuySeasons. Why would we want to discourage expansion of a business that is located in an appropriate area for such things. Did they area residents think that the businesses out there would never expand? At least there is one company out there that wants more workers.
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let the company expand. People on College and Small roads are complaining about trafic, but is it all comming from Buy Seasons? Big expansions in Muskego are a huge problem with the traffic, trucks from buy seasons don't usually go that way. Besides, couldn't a sign be posted to get them on the Small road exit of the park and get them to the light? You can't pass up jobs, it helps keep taxes down and other bussinesses working too. The trickle down effect would be huge. Gas stations would be getting more bussiness, restaurants, and stores where employees might stop on the way home would also pick up sales, ever stoped at a Walgreens on the way home?
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let the company expand. People on College and Small roads are complaining about trafic, but is it all comming from Buy Seasons? Big expansions in Muskego are a huge problem with the traffic, trucks from buy seasons don't usually go that way. Besides, couldn't a sign be posted to get them on the Small road exit of the park and get them to the light? You can't pass up jobs, it helps keep taxes down and other bussinesses working too. The trickle down effect would be huge. Gas stations would be getting more bussiness, restaurants, and stores where employees might stop on the way home would also pick up sales, ever stoped at a Walgreens on the way home?
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I would not encourage anything Jalem Getz is a part of.
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Hmm, my follow-up didn't post... I was just saying I accidentally hit "post" before finishing my edits... I didn't mean to imply that the future of the city depends on "Buy Seasons"!!! Just that the future of the city depends on us getting healthy businesses and allowing them to grow and expand. So I hope the Plan Commission will allow Buy Seasons to expand as a way for our economy to grow. More jobs in New Berlin, for existing New Berlin residents who need jobs, is a very good thing!
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This is great news for the City of New Berlin! We want companies to come here and grow and expand. In this economy, we have a company that is doing well -- that's fantastic! Please, Plan Commission, do the right thing for the city as a whole and approve their plans to expand. The future of the City depends on it.
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Perhaps this expansion is why Mayor Jack wanted low incoming housing in the
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First off, there is no exit onto College Avenue. The exit onto Moorland is a turn right only (south). Therefore, if anyone wants to go north, they exit onto Small and turn right to go east. This traffic does not pass any homes on Small Road before hitting Moorland Road. For the person that was complaining about getting out of the driveway onto College Ave....you can blame the Moorland Road expansion (from Grange to the south across College and well into Muskego) that occurred back in the late 90's, and the overall development in the area. Based on where she lives (between Moorland and Small), there is likely very minimal traffic from BuySeasons that actually passes her driveway. It simply isn't a logical route from that particular building. What she will notice is the increase in traffic once the Muskego SuperWalmart is complete.
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Good thing Buy Seasons didn't locate in Milwaukee where Elizabeth Coggs and Bob Baumann felt these jobs had no worth!
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