Diligent Standard

Drove by Canterbury lot that was awarded to Pharmashere in January of 2008 and nothing has been shoveled all winter. Remember this is the bidder who was suppose to break ground last March but has been allowed not to buy the parcel until they get a permit, but with a deadline of September 1st, 2009. Even if they do not have the building permit by then the deadline will be extended till Septembe 1st, 2010, as long as they are "diligently" pursuing the building permit.

Seriously how does one enforce a "diligent" standard?

More importantly how can anyone being given almost three years (Jan, 2008 through Sept, 2010) to get a building permit be considered "diligent"?