POULSBO — After development along Noll Road met fierce opposition from neighbors, the city annexed 82 acres north of that area Wednesday night without incident.

Unlike recent annexations, which faced opposition from residents, the land west of the Meredith Heights Planned Unit Development, south of Baywatch Court, east of State Route 305 and north of Noll Road was unanimously added to the city without a single word against it.

However, several council members expressed their concerns about access to the area, because the annexation didn’t extend to the Johnson Road/SR 305 intersection.

“Do we have the authority to direct Kitsap County to make improvements?” Councilman Mike Regis asked.

If the city were to allow development in the area, it would have an impact on Johnson Road, which isn’t in the city’s Urban Growth Area, Regis said, adding that improvements would be necessary to limit the affects on Noll Road and Meredith Heights.

The city cannot require the county to make any improvements to roads outside the city limits, City Engineer Andrzej Kasiniak replied.

When Regis asked whether Poulsbo had an interlocal agreement with Kitsap County in place that pertained to such issues, Kasiniak pointed out that the county has agreed to apply the city’s street standards to county roads within the UGA.

“The issue needs to be developed, because there is already a right of way in here that would need to be improved to the point it would tolerate more traffic,” Regis said, referring to the undeveloped portion of Johnson Road just west of SR 305. “Our sewer line already goes along that right of way.”

But such enhancements, Kasiniak said, can’t be made until a project is proposed that would warrant them.

Councilman Jeff McGinty said that when those upgrades are eventually made, the portion of Johnson Road that is outside the city limits could create an awkward situation.

“I believe the final decision is up to Kitsap County,” Kasiniak said.

“There could be lower standards for that stub and higher ones for the rest of the roadway,” McGinty said.

City Attorney Jim Haney entered the discussion and said the ultimate solution would be for developers to approach the county and ask if they can make those improvements themselves.

Even so, Poulsbo needs to know what the county plans to do with Johnson Road because it could become an important part of the city’s transportation plan to improve traffic flow, said Councilwoman Connie Lord.

When the idea of annexing the remaining part of Johnson Road was raised, Associate Planner Edie Berghoff reminded the council that it cannot expand annexation boundaries once it reaches the final approval point.

“We have to allow this one because if we don’t, it would isolate the rest of what we’ve annexed,” said Councilman Dale Rudolph.

Regis agreed that the area must be annexed because it is an important part of the city’s transportation plan, which is currently being reviewed by the council’s public works committee.

“We need this piece,” Regis said.