The process should be simple, but it's not.In any case, your key here is a Civil Engineer. 

I am a 25 year old engineer who just purchased my first home in the Minneapolis area.

now if he didnt have the MHIC you can report him to the MHIC , but you wont get money from them , they may prosecute him if there is enough evidence .As far as getting the plumbing and electrical to pass inspection , you may need an engineer , or a plumber and electrician to pull a permit , fix whats wrong and get a final .  

people aren't flipping in New Albany...maybe you want to focus on remodels on high-end homes...Investors are hard to work with...most are inexperienced and want it all for bottom dollar...I would start by looking at all the flips in the market...reverse engineer the deals and locate how is doing what...that's a good start.If you truly are a good contractor, you will have more work than you can handle.

Between the flipping business, my rentals and my engineering side business (I’m a licensed engineer), this sounds like exactly what I need to take things to the next level.

Once you know what is needed then you can lay out your plan which begins by determining the highest and best use which may or may not be a gated subdivision.That being said, in general you will need a civil engineer to do the land planning and subdivision work including road design, utilities etc. 

I grew up in north Jersey not far from NYC, now living in an apartment in Parsippany, NJ for a nice commute to my job as a Quality Engineer. 

Also, spend some time reading about search engine optimization (SEO) so more people will find your entries.NetworkingIt’s all about who you know.

In approval process and in abour $16k to engineers for plans, permits etc.

I have an engineering background so making things "pretty" and understanding what attracts the eye is not my forte.