Looking to connect with aspiring architects or developers in Lee County ( Fort Myers , Cape Coral , Bonita Springs , Lehigh Acres ) or Denver County.

I've worked as an architect in the Seattle and King county area and give you just the briefest of overview of the planning and permitting process.I would start with the zoning code and review the development standards for the adjacent single family zone.

It is also more challenging to put into service because you often need to engage civil engineers, MEP engineers, architects, designers, work through construction loans, deal with subcontractors of various sorts, etc.  

Lots of towns require stamped plans and affidavits from an architect, insurance from contractor and a construction license.

You have to get building plans from an architect.

I'm personally months away from being licensed as  General Contractor and am trained as an architect.

An architect wants to put their name on something that looks nice so they can say they designed it.

I would speak with planning as soon as possible to see if they will view this "code-hack", as the architect states, the same way.

I'm an architect in Tacoma. 

Whether the contractor pays the architect $100, or $50,000, it is not your concern.