. --- My friend was patient and after all was done, the Landlord  only offered her a $25 Walmart gift card and a couple towels to replace the ones soaked in feces. 

Or, worst case scenario - is it possible that the town will never approve any new septic design, thereby leaving me stuck with a house I can never sell??

Avoid the "TR" design.

It looks like my siblings and I are about to be gifted a duplex.

And lastly, there will be no "parting gifts" for playing.

If you want to save some time and money, I would involve a Design Build Architect or a GC at the time of consulting with the Architect.

@Jim Brown, I'm not normally a fan of that style of house either, but I keep running into them as possibilities here in Buffalo, and I think they all look much better with this roof design piece :) I'd love to add something like this if I end up purchasing a split level/raised ranch.

Researching on the county web site showed a map of the area and how this parcel was in a zone designated "Geologic Hazard" because the slope was over 30%. 

Receive gifted down payment (although this tends to be more difficult with investment properties than it is with primary/secondary residences)2.

You did a great job in both design and finish out.