Rochelle Council Approves Wheatland Tube Construction Variance

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle City Council approved a variance request from Wheatland Tube LLC on a 5 to 2 vote, allowing an alternative construction method for a proposed fabric covered hoop structure at 1600 Ritchie Court. The structure will serve as a drive through loading area for finished goods and will measure about 33,000 square feet, standing 48 feet tall, 110 feet wide and 291.5 feet long. Company officials said the project will help the facility adapt to operational needs while reducing construction time and downtime. Council members asked why the hoop and fabric design and not a traditional steel building, and representatives from the company said not only could it cost four times more, the construction lead time would be substantially longer. Council woman Kate Shaw-Dickey and Council man Tom McDermott voted against the variance.