I use the ROTC plans and heavily modify the plots (not only changing the building plan, but usually the type of plot as well).
For example, I build up Tenpines Bluff early and change the 2x2 residentials to multi-settler plans. Then a lot of the interior residential plots get turned into resource gathering plots. At Finch Farm, the plots on the highway all become residential and industry and farming go at the bottom.
One thing I often do is reduce the number of commercial plots, while keeping a few heavy commerce settlements (like oberland).
I also tend to focus farming in certain locations, such as Abernathy, Finch Farm and the slog. Then I can assign leaders with the farming booster trait (I also never build internal farm plots, as they cannot be made advanced - whereas internal resource gathering plots are fine as there are no advanced versions of those).
One thing I like about the ROTC city plans is they mostly have walls of some sort at level 3. I play with SKKs settlement attack system, so I also try to focus on martial plots that actually have turrets.