Regina, All I can do is wish you the very, very best when it comes for you to start placing those lots. I won`t say too much as it was hell for me, easily the most frustrating part of making my world (well, as yet?). Still, your policy of placing lots a wee bit from the road may be to your benefit regarding tearing and road tearing. Just go caw canny (as they say here in Scotland), just watch for that nasty smooth road option if road tears occur.
I resorted to not placing lots down in areas that it appears because smooth road cannot be trusted not to have an affect somewhere else in your world. Just pour yourself a strong coffee and always have a councillor handy just in case of mental breakdown.
BTW, it might be an idea to actually `drive` round your entire road network (once completed) in EIG (not in Edit Town) to check for road tears. I do this a lot, it`s a poor man`s Grand Theft Auto but it helps in the longrun.
