I am a licensed architect living and working in Philly.

It might be competitive research, it may be meeting inspectors, it could be getting prints from the engineer or architect.

The GC I used was referred to by a friend that was an architect.

Gotta love when GCs blame the Architect.

I don't know if this is the right forum.I do know I will need a Builder/Architect and planner for sure. 

Architects in your area would be the ones to contact.They normally charge a small fee to come see the property.

Well this thread is old, but what you need is a good architect; i am currently developing 2 parcels in Topanga, and i can recommend you a good one who is expert with the administration.

Ryan,I can give you an Architect's perspective.

You can put the time in yourself, or hire an architect to analayze expansion options (which won't be cheap at ~ $150/hr.)

To summarize some of the challenges: three carpentry crews had to be fired at various times, the city stopped the project once, a dumpster delivery/removal damaged our house and our neighbor's house as well as destroyed the driveway, we almost had a ridiculous roof leak after the board and plaster was installed, the project went over budget both in terms of dollars and timing (although we probably made the mistake of under-budgeting the rehab to begin with), and we learned that even recommended trades from other investors can still not work out, such as an architect who does all his drawings by hand!