To the Editor:
Ever heard the old joke about the definition of an HOA? A group of nervous ne'er-do-wells scared to death that somebody in their community is about to do something useful.
With all due respect, that's what the writers of "Opposing Application for a Country Inn" (Almanac, July 15-21, 2015) sound like to me.
I've lived in Potomac for many years and I've known Mark Reges and his family for longer than that. Mark is a man of vision and integrity. He and his OAI have given us a beautiful restaurant venue right here in Potomac for decades and have supported and raised substantial funds for causes and charities greatly benefiting our community.
I have attended those functions at OAI and have always found them to be well attended, elegant and orderly. Would you writers of "Opposing Application for a Country Inn" have Mark stop those well attended charity events as well, for the sake of some generality, some ethereal and unsubstantiated fear of noise or congestion? I think not.
And on that subject, as I am writing this on my deck at my house along Falls Road this early morning, I'm not bothered by the minimal noise that might come from an occasional wedding reception at OAI, but I'm enormously bothered by the constant noise of the constant stream of low flying jets that zoom over Potomac every day and every night, on their way to Reagan National. Hey HOA activists, how about jumping on that real and substantiated noise pollution problem!
Don't harp on a dignified gentleman, a neighbor and excellent restaurateur trying to build something really nice and really useful. Instead, why not join Congresswoman E. H. Norton who is pushing to have the constant jet traffic scaled back. Use your energy for real problems.
By the way, been on the C&O Canal towpath lately? I've never heard a sound from OAI, nor do I believe that Mark's carefully crafted proposal will cause any. But my bucolic bliss there is constantly interrupted by the noise of those low-flying jets along the river.
Add to that the existing danger and noise of the intolerably high volume, morning and evening rush hour traffic on Falls Road which has increased dramatically in recent years, on your watches I might add, you HOA's. You could have afforded much greater effort to have the master plan divert that traffic from Potomac. But no, I don't see any multi-signature opinion letters about that. Do something substantial about existing problems, i.e. Falls Road used as an alternative 495 and constant low-flying jets over our neighborhood. Please raise hell about those tangible things, and let Mr. Reges build his country inn.
Real problems, nothing. Assumed problems, uprising. Once again, scared somebody is about to do something useful. You also proclaim "there are many existing venues for wedding receptions and banquets in or near Potomac." Really? Name one. I don't see any. I'd love and I know my neighbors would love to have the availability of Mark's country inn right here in Potomac, with the now nonexistent chance to hold a nice function here or have out-of-town guests stay right here, close by.
OAI is an integral part of Potomac. You might even say it is Potomac. Mark just wants to make it better. It makes perfect sense to me that noise and congestion (big problems that already exist here from the stated other sources) will not increase by Mark's well crafted proposal, particularly when 80 more parking spaces and no outdoor entertaining facilities are a concrete part of it. As a long standing Potomac resident I believe Mark has a great idea, one that will provide a much needed and elegant asset to our neighborhood. I say bring it!
Michael Anestos
Potomac