Verona resident Gary Shmerler. “It’s just going to make Verona a vibrant, fun and fantastic place to live.”

Compliments of WISC-TV Channel 3 of Madison Wisconsin

UPDATED: 3:28 pm CDT March 13, 2007

Big-Box Stores, Retail, Apartments to be built near Epic Campus

VERONA, Wis. — The city of Verona unanimously approved a major expansion on Epic System Corp.’s campus on Monday night, and officials are considering major development around the facility. VIDEO: Watch The Report

The approval would double the size of Epic’s campus, located on the west side of Verona near Highway 18-151. The planned expansion would add five buildings and an underground parking ramp to the property, WISC-TV reported.

To go along with Epic’s expansion, the Verona City Council also approved a major retail development by a 5-3 vote.

Developer T-Wall Properties of Madison wants to build a project, larger than 1 million square feet, on former farmland near Epic. The project would contain two big-box stores, a hotel and apartment buildings, WISC-TV reported.

Such a big development has some local residents excited while others expressed concern.

“I can simply state to you that the people that I associate with are extremely excited about it, especially with what is going on with Epic,” said Verona resident Gary Shmerler. “It’s just going to make Verona a vibrant, fun and fantastic place to live.”

Verona resident Bernie Fatla said that he wants the city and local residents involved in whatever happens on the land.

“I just think that we, as the city of Verona, should use our clout and you, as the leaders of the city, should use your clout,” said Fatla. “We should get a development that fits the requirements that we all want.”

The development will still have to meet contingencies, including the approval of a traffic study by the city engineer. The state Department of Transportation would also be asked to add connector roads to the area to ease what is expected to be traffic congestion there, WISC-TV reported.