Amid a regional housing shortage and rising rents, Montgomery County is grappling with a complex issue: How to create more housing.

Officials have proposed ideas like building more housing, including designated affordable units, near Metro stations. And they are considering allowing single-family neighborhoods to be rezoned to allow different housing types, like duplexes and triplexes. Many of these proposals are included in the new general plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050.

But the plan and its proposals have drawn both praise as well as vocal opposition. Residents, including many homeowners, are concerned that measures to increase housing density could change the character of neighborhoods, cause environmental damage, and increase traffic. On the other hand, some worry that the plan doesn’t do enough to address affordable housing and racial equity.

In this hour, Kojo Nnamdi talks with local officials, advocates, and residents about housing in Montgomery County, and the path forward.

This broadcast is an edited version of a live Kojo In Our Community event that took place on October 11, 2022 at the Silver Spring Civic Building.