Love the name.. and an architect as well.

Perhaps take a look at:  https://www.loopnet.com/ and see which types of commercial lease listings interest you and from there take inventory of which brokerage and listing agents are prominently features in the space that interests you.

Connect with a local architect who specializes in new construction duplexes and get their feedback on the highest and best use of the land, as is.

All three units are long term rentals.Reach out if you need a good architect or contractor for your projects (anywhere in SoCal or NorCal). 

If a licensed Architect is necessary, that could be the disconnect if your first "Architect" was not licensed.

They usually require experience and they are lots of docs needed from architect drawings to a lot of permitting. 

Do you mean it would need an architect because that's required by the jurisdiction, or because the project itself would need an architect's expertise?

They found it out, andI had to go to the planning board and zoning board, hire an engineer and architect to make the fourth unit legal.In my opinion, the realtor should have verified the zoning, and if you used bank financing, it's pretty rare for the bank to miss it as well.You are probably going to have to hire an architect to draw plans and to get it approved as a triplex.I wish you luck.

(My fiancé with an architect with a refreshing vision) What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

Your agent, your architect, whoever.