CHAPEL HILL- The Chapel Hill Town Council will likely vote on Wednesday to appoint a new member.

Eleven applicants hope to be chosen to fill the seat vacated by Penny Rich when she stepped down to serve on the Board of County Commissioners.

The wide-ranging group spans the gamut from a UNC Junior to a former council member, and includes some who are well-versed in town politics, as well as others looking to enter the arena for the first time.

When the applicants made their cases to the council last week, development, affordable housing and the implementation of the Chapel Hill 2020 plan were top concerns.

Now the eight sitting council members will vote to appoint the person they see most fit to tackle those problems. Whoever is appointed will serve out the remainder of Rich’s term, which ends in December of 2013.

Following that vote, the council will host a public hearing on a plan to build high density student housing on MLK Boulevard.

The proposed project would demolish a trio of two-story apartment buildings across from town hall. Developers want to replace that with four- to six-story buildings containing nearly 200 apartments.

The council meeting gets underway at 7 o’clock in Council Chambers at Town Hall.