The scoop on In-N-Out; The Dunes food update.

For many, the wait has been long. Too long. But the end is finally near: In-N-Out closed escrow Sept. 1 on its 2.2-acre parcel at 1350 Del Monte Blvd. in Seaside, and City Manager John Dunn says construction is set to begin any day.

Once started, Dunn says the restaurant should be open within 120 days. For double-double-loving locals, that means awesomesauce by Christmas.

The restaurant has been more than five years in the making, and Seaside and Marina were once both competing to attract the much-loved southern California-based burger chain.

But the project is not without its drawbacks. The location of the In-N-Out—just northwest of Laguna Grande and next to the border of Monterey—drew heavy scrutiny for the unavoidable traffic woes projected in its environmental impact report.

The biggest issue is the likely possibility that cars turning left into the restaurant's parking lot or drive-thru might back up cars on Del Monte Boulevard heading southbound toward Monterey. Additionally, cars turning left out of the restaurant will have to dodge a fast-moving gauntlet of cars—like "Frogger"—heading both directions. 

Despite the traffic impacts, which the EIR stated could not be mitigated, Seaside City Council approved the plan, which surprised no one given that the city had been courting In-N-Out for years.

Traffic impacts aside, the news is probably welcome to many Peninsula residents, who will able to feast on double-doubles—animal-style—by Christmas. 

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Developer Scott Negri's restaurants proposal at The Dunes in Marina was presented to Marina City Council at their Sept. 1 meeting, but there was so much public comment that the meeting was called at 10pm and the item was continued. 

A date has not yet been set for when it will be heard next, but Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado says it will likely be some time in October. 

The public comment was largely in support of the project, which proposes to bring nearly 10 "fast-casual" food franchises into The Dunes, which is currently miles from the closest restaurant. 

There were those who spoke in opposition to the project, which has been criticized by the Marina Planning Commission for being too auto-centric and lacking in density. The vision for The Dunes, they argued, is to be a dense, walkable community. 

To approve the project, the City Council will have to approve an amendment to the city's general plan to allow for the project's low density. 

There are two drive-thrus in Negri's proposal, one of which will be for a Starbucks. Some of the other prospective tenants—who have already signed leases—include Chipotle, Deli Delicious, Blaze Pizza and Teriyaki Madness. 

Toward the end of the Sept. 1 meeting, Delgado predicted the council would probably spend another three hours debating the project, so there is no guarantee it will be decided at the next meeting. (Marina has an ordinance that City Council meetings can't go past 10pm without a unanimous vote.)

Delgado also called it a "very important project," but based on council comments during the deliberations, it's very tough to read whether it's headed for approval.