Norfolk Southern Railroad got the go ahead to move forward with a $285 million rail yard expansion in Englewood after the Chicago Planning Commission okayed the extension of two tax increment financing districts (TIF) near the site.

The Norfolk Southern project will expand an existing rail yard between 47th Street and Garfield Boulevard south to 61st Street, increasing its size by almost 85 acres.

Englewood residents have been worried that the project would lead to less residential and green space and increased air pollution in the community, which already suffers from high asthma rates. But community members and their advocates were able to strike a deal with the city of Chicago and the company to ensure that the project does not come at the expense of the environment and public health.

"This agreement will put Englewood on the map as a place where the community stood up, the city listened, and the railroad came to the table to find a better way," John Paul Jones, co-Founder of Sustainable Englewood Initiatives, said in a statement.

As part of the concessions, the company said 36 of the 38 trucks that move trailers around the yard will have cutting-edge pollution controls by 2018, while a dozen pieces of construction equipment will see immediate upgrades for clean engines or diesel filters. In all, the company vowed to provide some $3 million for transportation improvements, while also contributing thousands of dollars to local schools, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Additionally, Norfolk Southern agreed to make a contribution for landscaping improvements and green space at Englewood's Sherwood Park. The company is also set to give its unused rail spurs to the city as part of an elevated bike trail project. And Norfolk also said it would sponsor a $1 million fund for sustainability projects in Englewood.

Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health programs for the Respiratory Health Association, said the city deserves "high praise for making this happen."

“They understand the burden of asthma that now falls on families in Englewood and that asthma is a key reason for school absences. Children attending schools and daycares that abut the rail yard will now be able to breathe a little easier knowing air pollution will be reduced starting this school year,” he said.  “In addition to Chicago’s recent efforts to reduce emissions from diesel construction equipment and in reducing emissions from CTA buses, today’s announcement shows Chicago is becoming a healthier place to live and breathe.”