Former planners are the way to go, but I doubt they are expeditors, they are simply permit processors that know the "what next", best way is to get someone who worked at THAT particular city, else it will simply not work, you are paying your architect and engineer a bunch of money, you don't need to hire a 3rd party to do what you paid them to do.

However, less thought about individuals range from advertising agencies to commercial printers, Web hosting companies to wedding planners.

I was a financial planner for 17 years in Canada, and now doing real estate in USA... diversifications is diversifying and mitigate the risks...tax strategies are awesome in Real Estate, especially in USA. 

Be sure to get a fee-only planner who gets paid by consultation.  

County planner should know so I'll call them on Monday.

Get A Daily Planner First, get a daily planner and use it.

Hello,If you need to crunch the numbers, you can call me and will help you for that, ex-actuary and ex-financial planner, really good at that, also on different tax strategies, because of my background. 

If you really need a financial planner, Google them as a fee based planner, they charge a flat fee and are not a "captured" agent for a brokerage or insurance company. 

The best thing for you to do is go into the Planning Department and talk to the planner at the desk, and find out what you would be allowed to do.

Think like an estate planner: what happens if the seller dies, get incapacitated due to illness or injury,  dies without a will ?