WATERLOO - The U.S. Postal Service is planning to build a carrier annex building in a growing commercial area along Highway 63 south.

The Waterloo Board of Adjustment voted 3-0 Tuesday to approve a special permit for the proposed 39,238-square-foot building along Marnie Avenue, on the east side of Highway 63 between Ridgeway Avenue and Highway 20.

The new postal building would be used by carriers, but not by the public for any mail collection, drop off or retail services.. Carriers would take pre-sorted mail there and further sort it for more efficient delivery along routes.

Building architect Larry Niegowski, of Howard R. Green Co., said the bulk of the 157 parking spaces would be under a canopy, where carriers would park their trucks while sorting mail.

"We've designed it for 72 routes to be encompassed in this building," he said. "You basically have a rush of people in the morning, a rush of people in the evening and a lot of quiet time."

Those duties are performed now at the Main Post Office, located at 300 Sycamore St. downtown. But local postal officials have been trying to relocate the carrier sorting operation for some time and automated equipment takes up more space.

"It's become more crowded and actually sort of dangerous in the building," Niegowski said.

The property is already appropriately zoned for the carrier annex, but the special permit is pending the endorsement of the Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission on Sept. 9. Special permits are required for government buildings.

Several new businesses, including Country Estates Fence, Riley Floors and Wilbert Burial Vault, recently located in the same development area. And the Greenbelt Centre business park is beginning to take shape to the west, with Mauer Eye Clinic, Craft-Cochran and a Social Security Administration office in the works.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.