Now through March 27, the Philadelphia Citizen’s Planning Institute is accepting application for the next round of courses.

Established last year for residents to take advantage of, the institute offers a series of courses to help engage citizens in Philadelphia’s planning process.

This Spring, accepted residents can take the three-session core course and three elective courses to study planning, land use, zoning, design practices and vacant land policy.  continue reading »

At a February 2011 meeting, Upper Holmesburg residents review neighborhood plans. Civic Association member Paul DeFinis (not pictured) is a graduate of the Citizens Planning Institute. File Photo/Shannon McDonald

Philadelphia has a relatively new citywide comprehensive plan, Phila2035, and a new zoning code. To help residents better understand both and put their lessons to use in their neighborhoods, the City Planning Commission introduced its Citizens Planning Institute.

Thirty people graduated from the program recently, bringing the total number of citizen planners to 89 since the courses began last Fall. PlanPhilly has a list of the most recent graduates. Most hail from parts of South, West and Southwest Philadelphia, with a few North Philadelphia residents sprinkled in. None of the 3o new members is from the Northeast. continue reading »

Holmesburg Junction Station in December 2011. Photo/Shannon McDonald

For many who take the train every day, Holmesburg Junction is their first (and sometimes only) glimpse at the neighborhood.

The aging train station has been a focus of a joint effort by the Upper Holmesburg Civic Association and Philadelphia City Planning Commission as the pair work on neighborhood improvements under the Phila2035 plan.

But while those efforts concentrate on greening, waterway access and an overall more desirable-looking neighborhood anchor, legislators Wednesday will focus on the station’s need for funding to better serve the community. continue reading »