Planning is the foundation for Engineering Department projects and encompasses a variety of subjects that include brownfield redevelopment, community development, Downtown Terre Haute revitalization, growth of the National Road Heritage Trail Greenway System, neighborhood planning, railroad consolidation, roadway and street network planning, safe routes to schools, transportation enhancements, Wabash River development, and the traditional planning issues of comprehensive land use planning and an eventual Unified Development Ordinance approach for zoning.

Planning is a collaborative public process with the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Redevelopment, Streets, and Transit to ensure a continuous focus upon safety, mobility, connectivity, environmental stewardship, quality of life, the stimulation of business investment and economic growth.