In addition the local building departments have to sign off on the design etc. before it's submitted to utility company. 

To that end, I may want to approach him and ask him if we can share her as a resource.

What’s the best approach for something’s Like this or if you have come across this before?

And I’m trying t avoid the Nike “just do it” approach.

I use my own model that I designed. 

It's a smaller meet up mostly designed to serve the needs of the homestead road owners. 

Of course if they can land an A site for cheap rent they are all on it but is very rare for that to happen.If developer has a well marketed and well located site with high quality design and exterior build they will have MANY tenants vying for those spaces.

We have a practice of "one lease, one payment" and ask our tenants to designate one representative to send us a single security deposit and single rent payment each month.  

As I would love to design a home some point in my life. 

I think lots of people have talked about this approach on BP and that could be  a way for you to get started (House Hacking, BRRR).