Here's a version of what I think planners really do:

1.  We start with the question, what is there now? What are the resources of the community and what are the pressing problems? (Community Mapping and Ecological Profiling)

2.  The next question is where do we want to go? What do we want for the community? What do we envision for the future?

3.  Then how do we get there? What is the plan? How can it be implemented?

Planning is a participatory and collaborative process that involves the choices and decisions of the people.  Thus, a planner's role is to ensure 'stakeholdership'.  The planner is the facilitator, guide, the community is a partner and owner of the plan.

That's what I think I do.