I've often been annoyed by the apparent failure of the priority queueing system to start work on lots that require clearance with respect to those that do not.
Even though there are both labourers and builders available, a lot that requires clearance before building seems to get ignored in preference to other lots that have been placed later. Is there something built in that prefers clear lots?
I've never been able to figure this system out completely. Since lots are cleared by laborers, my guess is that the relevant queue is the laborer queue. I use the priority tool to re-orient them to the building site. I've also taken to clearing the larger "buildings" such as fields, orchards, pastures and cemeteries with the clearing/harvesting tools before laying out the buildings. It seems to me that I get more laborers (not to mention non-busy farmers, etc. in the Winter) working on clearing that way.
Yeah. I generally use the priority tool. It almost seems as if the queueing order has been forgotten. Sometimes it takes more than one pass at different times.