WATERVILLE $ The Planning Board voted 5-0 Monday to approve plans for a new fleet maintenance garage for the Public Works Department, estimated to cost $650,000.

The 6,000-square-foot building will be constructed at the Public Works complex located at 6 Wentworth Court off Main Street.

The current maintenance garage, built in 1947, will be renovated for use by the Parks & Recreation Department, according to Public Works Director Mark Turner.

He said the building is too small and has a lot of problems, including poor air quality and the original heating system, which will be upgraded.

"Everything is jammed right in, real tight," he said. "It's bad $ real bad. We call it the 'pit of doom, of despair.'"

Turner said the city received eight bids for construction of the new three-bay building which will be insulated and have radiant floor heating. Four finalists will be interviewed Thursday, he said.

In other matters, the board voted 5-0 to approve revisions to a previously-approved plan for a 3,438-square-foot Maine State Credit Union on Grove Street.

The board also voted to recommend councilors approve a zone change that allows the credit union to change its landscaping plan slightly and erect a pylon sign.

"A pylon sign is a free-standing, illuminated sign," said David Leasure, president of Architectural Associates, Inc., of Portland, the project architect.

He said the sign will be 15 to 20 feet high. Councilors would consider the zone change Oct. 7, according to City Planner Ann Beverage.

Amy Calder $ 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com