Plans for new manufacturer head to Hutchinson Planning Commission

Plans for a new 51,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will come before the Hutchinson Planning Commission Tuesday night, April 21.

Atomic Crane Corp., a new partnership of Hutchinson Manufacturing and a Shoreview company, will build large cranes for up to 20 new nuclear reactors. The plant will be built in an open lot west of Hutchinson Manufacturing along State Highway 7 West. Each reactor would need a set of 14 cranes.

Because of the size of the cranes, the partners are requesting a variance from the city’s maximum allowed 40-foot building height in an I-1 industrial district. The proposal is for a 56-foot building. A conditional-use permit also is required to allow outside storage of the finished cranes awaiting shipment.

Screening will be required along the property’s west side next to the Best Western Victorian Inn and next to the Luce Line State Trail to the south.

The role of the Planning Commission is to make recommendations to the City Council. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the council chamber of City Center, 111 Hassan St. S.E.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)