Councillor Josh Matlow apparently has lots of support for his proposals to make it harder for developers to close traffic lanes to build condos.

After my Tuesday column about Matlow’s efforts — reported last week by the Star’s Jennifer Pagliaro — to better balance the public interest against those of developers, readers flooded me with emails saying they’re cheering for him.

His recommendations — unanimously endorsed by city council’s infrastructure and environment committee — call for the city to deny requests to occupy the road allowance for development, except when no other options are available.

“I don't understand why builders/developers are freely permitted to close curb lanes and sidewalks for private and for-profit projects,” said Mary Morrison.

“Our tax dollars fund these lanes, whether they are open (as they should be) or closed. Plus, there is a blatant show of disrespect and thoughtlessness, when the lanes remain barricaded for months after the job is completed.”

“Laurels to Matlow for his initiative and darts to city planning staff,” said Peter Broughton. “Builders should not have the right to occupy public rights of way for extended periods of time so that they can fully fill the lot they are developing.

“The inconvenience to pedestrians, cyclists, public transit and motorists is bad enough, but the ultimate price of having an unrelieved streetscape of walls is a very long-term blight.”

Peter Omnet said the city should “tie lane blockages too affordable housing: developers want, developers build. Create penalties that also involve building more affordable housing for developers who overstay.”

“It seems our culture is ever more focused on profits, greed and punishing the earth,” said Doug Buck. “I used to love Toronto, immigrated to Canada in order to live here, but we’re letting it become like Manhattan was: only the ultra-rich and ultra-poor can live here.”

“I don’t know why they can’t make the footprint of a building a bit smaller to make room for the space they need to build it, instead of taking up road space,” said Kevin Suter.

“And if they are taking a parking lane, pay the same parking fees as anyone else. With two buildings being built on my street, I often can’t even get into my parking lot due to trucks blocking the lane.”

The only note that was even remotely supportive of the status quo came from Ashok Malhotra, who said “speculators are an essential part of the development business. It is because of the pre-construction purchase of condos that a developer is able to get the financing to build the project.

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“The municipalities should do everything possible to help the developer execute the project in the shortest possible time; this reduces cost, and this reduction is passed along to buyers.”

I’ll be sticking with this subject as it plays out at city council, and hope to speak next week with Mayor John Tory about what he’s doing (and it’s more than I said in my Tuesday column) about developers camping out in traffic lanes for years at a time.

What's broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Email jlakey@thestar.ca or follow @TOStarFixer on Twitter