Residential approvals could be more of a challenge so you would want to hire a good zoning attorney, architect/engineer to fight for you. 

A very prominent asset protection attorney in CA, Clint Coons, has several youtube videos out that show one can create several LLC's here in California if there are multiple properties, but in order to save the $800 annual filing for each properyt, one could have them owned by a WY or DE LLC (no fee;s) and then just have ONE California Managing LLC that reports the income (either as S corp or flow through to personal 1040).This would save thousands per year for people who own many high net properties and allow them to isolate them in individual LLC's without the expensive burden on $800 each.

Architect in training.

Anyone knows any good engineers or architect in Riverside Country, CA?

And since this property was across the street from a very prominent destination lake, governmental action would be swift and strong should any environmental contamination issues come up in the future to protect the lake. 

A prominent southern California investor predicted that we'd see a peak in California within a few years.

I am thinking we need plans drawn up by an architect, then an inspection?

Architects, engineers, surveyors, contractors, property managers, top producing Realtors, title clerks and settlement agents.Instead of going to these folks and asking a question that is a "can you help me with my problem" go to them with an attitude of interest in what they do, like, "what do I need to do to become familiar with what you do" "how can I be a (an) _____________.

Prescott NunleyThe two groups I am thinking of that were relatively prominent a few years ago were AEREO and DWFREIN.

Architect?