Letters: Cherry Hill is diverse, not an 'exclusive enclave'

The Inquirer got it wrong. Its coverage of the state of affordable housing in Cherry Hill and the Editorial Board's response ("Exclusive enclaves," Nov. 16) are misleading.

First and foremost, despite what affordable-housing advocates say, there are many places to live in Cherry Hill for Steve Drasher, who was used as an example in the story and has a reported income of $32,000 annually. According to the state Council on Affordable Housing rules, Drasher's monthly income is $2,666, and 30 percent of total monthly income dedicated to housing would mean that $800 monthly is affordable for rent and utilities.

There are hundreds of units in Cherry Hill Dasher could live in that are not certified by COAH, but still correspond to the approximate income levels set up by the state. Those places include Wallworth Park, Waterford Apartments, Sergi Farms - a COAH-certified development - and the Lexington House. All of these places have rental units in line with Drasher's income. They are not COAH-certified because they do not have a deed restriction and therefore the state, and apparently The Inquirer, does not consider them "affordable."

The editorial tries to paint Cherry Hill as a McMansion oasis when nothing could be further from the truth. This township is one of the most diverse in the Delaware Valley and certainly not an "exclusive enclave."

Mayor Bernie Platt

Cherry Hill Township