A proposed restaurant development in Marina may have another fighting chance.

There is renewed hope yet for food in The Dunes.

On Aug. 14, developer Scott Negri appealed the Marina Planning Commission’s decision to deny a zoning change for his fast casual food project in The Dunes. Even 10 years since it was created, the development south of Imjin Parkway remains miles from the nearest restaurant.

Marina City Council will hear the appeal Sept. 1, and consider a proposal that has a key difference than what was before the Planning Commission: Negri now proposes four buildings instead of three, which will increase the project density.

The project’s lack of density was the reason it ran afoul of the Planning Commission, whose majority held fast to the vision of The Dunes Specific Plan: Create an urban center built around walkability and bikeability.

Negri says his options to develop his site are impacted by operating agreements that nearby Target and Best Buy have in their leases. Specifically, Best Buy requires view corridors must be maintained from Second Avenue to its store.

But after six months of negotiating with Best Buy, the company finally agreed Aug. 7 to let Negri put a fourth building on his parcel, even though it will partially obstruct the view.

The density of Negri’s latest proposal, however, is still considerably less than required by the city’s general plan, and could face an uphill battle for council approval. Nonetheless, Negri says he’s done everything he can.

“It’s not like another developer can come in and do something I can’t,” he says. “The restrictions are in place.”