By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia City Planning Commission announced yesterday that its plans for the Lower South, West Park and Lower Northeast sections of the city are now complete.

The citywide plan was adopted in June 2011 and since then, the city has updated its zoning code and is working to develop 18 district-level plans designed to move the city forward to 2035.

Planning Commission Deputy Executive Director Eva Gladstein says 3 of the 18 are now complete.

“For lower south near the Navy Yard, we’ve actually applied for a federal grant to look at the extension of the Broad Street Line. In the West Park area, some ordinances have been introduced into city council to make future development more predictable.”

Gladstein says the plan also includes $6 million worth of investment in commercial corridor facade improvements and construction projects totaling about $3 billion.

To further Philadelphia’s goal of becoming cleaner and greener, miles of walkable bike trails and more than 4,000 new trees are a key part of the strategy. Gladstein says the Central District and University City Southwest district plans will be complete in March. You can go to phila2035.org for more details.

The Commission says its fifth class of citizen planners graduated from the Citizen Planning Institute.  The American Planning Association recognized the commission this week by awarding a national planning excellence award for best practice.

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