This is an excellent thread and its question relates to me lately.
I will be resetting my second town Progress.
I was able to get (and print at 72-percent scale in landscape) apparently all the maps from which there is availability in "Animal Crossing: New Leaf."
I have something in mind for replacing Progress. And I will have to choose a new map wisely. I also need to put more thought to the layout which would include locations of villager houses. (I'm certainly going to do this with human houses.)
I think my common mistake has been in looking at a map without thinking how paths could flow. For example, it's nice to have a town where a path can flow from the Train Station or from Main Street going across to the south side of one's town.
I do admire a lot of the hard work and creativity others have gone through in creating and completing their towns.