POULSBO — The extension of 7th Avenue from Frontier Bank to State Route 305’s intersection with Forest Rock Hills Lane has been the source of much talk and little action as no one could agree how to make it happen.

However, after nine years of waiting, property owner Bob Amos is ready to narrow the gap by 442 feet.

Amos owns roughly half of the land between Frontier Bank and SR 305 and has crews from Stan Palmer Construction of Port Orchard staging equipment on his property.

“We are currently under contract with Stan Palmer Construction to complete our section of the road as soon as possible in accordance with city-approved drawings and specifications,” Amos told the council’s public works committee Wednesday night.

That portion of the road is expected to be completed in November 2007, he said.

“When our section of 7th Avenue is completed it will abut a city-owned right of way, which connects to the 7th Avenue/Highway 305 intersection,” Amos said.

Councilman Ed Stern asked if Amos would be interested in the local improvement district idea, which would split the cost between area landowners as suggested by Chinook Properties, which owns the other half of the property along 7th Avenue.

“At this point we are not interested in any LID proposals nor funding any additional portions of 7th Avenue,” Amos replied. “The city is in control of what happens regarding the completion of the remaining section of 7th Avenue.”

The extension is one of the conditions of approval for the final plat approval of the property, but because the preliminary plat expired in 2002, Amos said he fears having to go through the entire process again.

“To go back and start all over again will be an expensive and unnecessary, accomplishing nothing,” Amos said.

Councilman Mike Regis said it appears that in 1997 the city council gave Amos a condition for approval, which was impossible for him to meet then.

“I think we need to direct staff and have staff pursue this and consult with the city attorney,” Regis said.

It would be productive for the city to keep the process moving forward, so it can get a road built while Stan Palmer crews are there, he said.

“We need to go back and examine the city council agreement,” Regis said.

Planning Director Barry Berezowsky said city staff would like to see the 7th Avenue extension become a reality and that it will definitely benefit the community.

However, before waiving any permit fees, City Attorney Jim Haney would have to be consulted to see what the legal restrictions are, Berezowsky said.

Regis then said he would work to get the rest of the public works committee caught up on the history of the project before bringing it back to that group and then to the full council.