The Cross-check or Redline Conquest are my dream commuter bikes, but the touring bikes are nice as well, and still have the features you want, with possibly more braze-ons than you can find a use for. The LHT and Trek 520 are good choices. My commute isn't much shorter than yours and I've had good luck on a plain old entry-level road bike (Trek 1200, comes with eyelets for racks and fenders). Pretty much anything you build will handle it, so it's all personal preference.
The 'cross bikes will have a moderately low-geared double crank whereas the touring bikes usually have a triple that goes pretty low in terms of gear-inches. For slogging hills on a loaded commuter bike, you might find that a touring bike would fit the bill better.