CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Between population growth and rising rent prices, housing is a hot topic across many cities, including Chapel Hill.

Last week, there was a public hearing about some proposed ideas that could change zoning in the town. Some proposals include allowing townhomes, triplexes and small apartments to be built in neighborhoods that currently have single-family homes. One goal is to create more diverse and more affordable housing options.

It’s been almost 11 years since Kelle Gregory bought a home in Chapel Hill.

“I was renting beforehand, and the rent kept going up, going up, going up, going up,” Gregory said. “Getting out of that renting cycle is pretty difficult, and without affordable housing, I would not be able to do that.”

She would ultimately accomplish that goal with the help of Community Home Trust, an organization that helps families earning less than 60% of the area median income buy affordable homes.

“Everything is expensive. And everything has become exponentially more expensive,” Gregory said.

She believes adding more options for housing, including triplexes, apartments and townhomes is a start, but she says there’s work to do.

“It’s good to have more housing in Chapel Hill, but we need more affordable housing. The demand for affordable housing, to be able to live and work and thrive in the community here is so large,” Gregory said. “The affordable housing opportunities are just a dot on a very large canvas.”

In terms of a place to live, she believes most people want the same thing.

“How many people do you know that believe that home ownership is one of their goals in life? The security about knowing that I own this home and I’m going to have a roof over my head for my child, for myself,” Gregory said.

If the housing situation in Chapel Hill doesn’t change, she’s worried it could mean losing the diversity of families in the town she loves.

“It could be a very elitist kind of, one-dimensional kind of community. I think the other surrounding communities that might have more favorable, affordable housing policies might be the benefit of folks that can’t live in Chapel Hill and that would be a real shame,” Gregory said. “It makes it makes the community more diverse.”

There will be another public hearing on housing and rezoning in Chapel Hill on Feb. 22. Residents can also take part in virtual community information sessions on Jan. 31 and an in-person session on Feb. 2.