SILVERTHORNE – Because of the Town of Silverthorne’s pending litigation regarding the classification of Lowe’s as a use-by-right entity, Lowe’s requested and last week was granted an extension in submitting subdivision materials until March 8, 2011.

The original due date for final documents was Oct. 8, but a 30-day extension was granted prior to litigation being filed.

Subsequently, Lowe’s cited uncertainties with the pending litigation as reasons not to close on the property purchase and spend the time and money on a final subdivision plat and subdivision improvement agreement – necessary components to move the project forward. The extension to March, which coincides with the expiration of the approved site plan, should allow the lawsuit to resolve and present a clear development path for Lowe’s to pursue.

Without the extension, Lowe’s could lose approvals already in place, Silverthorne Planning Manager Michael Johnson said. Town councilors approved the extension at their meeting last week.

“Lowe’s continues its interest in proceeding with the project as entitled to date and is hopeful that the town will grant the requests to provide the additional time needed to work through the pending litigation,” Lowe’s vice president Michael Skiles wrote in a letter to Silverthorne’s community development office.