This will vary property by property and area by area, but in area not only do you have all the city/county level planning: access, traffic counts, density requirements, unit counts for school districts, sewer capacity, etc, but you also have neighborhood councils which will have additional level of say in final design, scale, unit counts, uses, etc.  

I graduated college with a double major in finance and real estate. 

The CAISO (California ISO) real time markets routinely go negative in summer from 10AM to 2PM (solar peak time), meaning the customers with non-dispatchable roof-top solar will be charged for putting solar onto the grid. 

I also made sure that they themselves also owned rentals in the areas I was interested in. Finally

I'd suggest continuing to network at real estate events, but also exploring partnerships with professionals in finance, wealth management, etc.Keep refining your investment thesis and building those relationships.

I have extensive experience in finance, but not as a builder. 

I am a current senior in college majoring in finance.

They are not a scam they tell you what they do in FINE Print.  

I am considering building a rooftop deck/rooftop terrace on the rear side of an upper level addition. 

Dishonesty that you can prove could result in fines from both places or even a license suspension.