Is there an order to openiing tthe special land expansions?

In the past, the only requirement to opening expanded land areas was that they had to border existing already opened areas. However, the special deco areas appear to be different. I wanted to start with one in the middle. Its left side is against an open area I'm currently farming. Its other three sides are enclosed. Even though I have more than enough mallets, there is no green checkmark. Its all greyed out. I don't get it. The ONLY plots that can actually be opened are the ones closest to the road. What gives? We can't select any of them that lie along the existing left hand border of the already opened farming area?

Wow! This is apparently true. I just went back to the farm and checked. My plot by the road has the LEMs in color. The plots near the earlier land I've developed have LEMs greyed out. I, too, assumed that any plots adjoining developed land could be opened.

Do you have the necessary expansion permits as well as the usual LEMs?

As Rose Red said, the LEM stays greyed out until you have enough permits, that's all.

I think if you can pull up the box showing how many permits and LEMs you need, then you can open it. The only ones I can't do that on are the back corner -- the ones by the road and by my already expanded land appear open-able.