Build Applications for
Community Planning
To Those Who Care,
We develop policies, map land use, analyze data, project trends, and model traffic. Yet we often struggle to truly connect with the communities we serve.
The Planning Community bridges that gap, building open-source tools and providing web technology resources to help planners better connect with and serve their communities.
Let’s build something we are proud of.
Jing Zhang, FAICP
Founder, The Planning Community
Tools
Community Markers
A map-based input tool. Users drop pins with comments, allowing others to upvote or downvote the input. All data is mirrored in a filterable list view on a separate page for easy sorting and review.
Community Posts
A platform for residents to express ideas, raise concerns, and react to local development issues in real-time, for transparent, two-way conversations that build long-term trust and collaboration.
Project Dashboard
An online map for transportation projects to bridge the gap between GIS files and public awareness, featuring synchronized filter, dual-view, deep-dive profiles, and comprehensive global search.
Participatory Budgeting
A web-based application supporting participatory budgeting through intuitive, real-time budget calculations, live data analysis, and a one-click side panel for instant project details.
Live Survey
Live Survey moves beyond the "submit and disappear" model of typical survey tools. It is a lightweight application that reveals survey results to the community the moment they are submitted.
Real Questions Answered
Is this a big company?
No. It is a single member LLC.
Is this an "AI" project?
No. While many projects use AI to automate away the human element, I use it to accelerate the transition from idea to implementation. By leveraging AI to assist with the foundational computer programming, I can focus on the high-touch architectural decisions and user experience that matter most.
How do you handle Security?
Community planning involves sensitive data and public trust. While I leverage AI to accelerate the development of customized solutions, security is never automated. I protect application through a three-tier security fortress:
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Your application is built on Wix Studio, which utilizes the same rigorous security standards required by global financial institutions. Compliance & Certifications: The platform is compliant with PCI DSS Level 1, SOC 2 Type 2, and ISO 27001, meeting the highest international benchmarks for data protection and risk management.
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I ensure all sensitive logic is handled via Velo Web Modules (Backend code). This means the code that processes data is never visible or accessible to a user’s browser, preventing "client-side" manipulation.
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Every line of AI-assisted code is manually audited by me personally, focusing on the logic for Input Validation (ensuring no malicious data is entered into forms) and Permissions Logic (ensuring only authorized users can access specific data).
Why do you share the code?
I built my skills on the back of open-source knowledge and accessible tools. Because I didn’t have to pay a fortune to learn, it's my obligation to pay it forward.
How do you make money from open source?
I sustain this work by developing customized tools for specific projects, not by gatekeeping code and skills.
How to work with you?
My work is built on a risk-free performance-based partnership. I stand behind the tools I build; if the final product doesn't meet the objectives we set at the start, you don't owe me a dime. We begin with a candid conversation to ensure our visions align and that I am the right person to solve your problem.
Can a planner really build these tools alone?
Yes — but with learning curve. For beginners, it takes months of consistent effort. With AI, the hurdle is lower than ever, but it still requires "true learning" and a genuine interest in the craft.
Can "Open Source" really be as good as a $50k software suite?
In terms of flashy sales decks or corporate polish? Maybe not. In terms of responding to the changing need of a neighborhood? It’s better, because you own it, you understand it, and you can adapt it as your community evolves.
What do you mean "open source"?
It means sharing the source code behind the applications, as well as the logic that makes them work. This is not "off-the-shelf" software like QGIS or online tool like Canva. It is more like a specialized LEGO set. The blocks are all there, but you are the one who assembles them into the specific shape.
