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Reading city requirements will only provide a general overview. They will get you in plan check and that's where the gotchas will show up and corrections need to be made. Your architect is your friend and he should know them to prevent as little change as possible therefore not surprise up-charges.
I wouldn't buy those already made plans. Most cities require some type of earthquake requirements that are missing in those plans. You can submit them but it will get kick back during plan check and all require items will need to be on there before resubmitted. If you can get those in yourself, then you should be golden and save $$$.
I straddle on the two camps and tell you the truth, I'm selfish when it comes to ADUs. I welcome the states approach because we own rentals and ADUs are a cheap way to increase income. Like you said, no land purchase to save big bucks. On the other hand, I hate to have them in my own neighborhood. Having renters are always a crap shoot along with that, bad behavior and taking up street parking can be stressful. In my area, there's little room for ADU. If there are, there's no driveway and parking rules kill off any permits. Hill side construction will blow their budget. I posted a pic of my back yard on the weather thread. You will see that its extremely expensive to build on that hill because getting equipment back there will be next to impossible.
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