Johnston County board reviews master plan for new county campus; design proposals for DSS building to come Aug. 4

Josh Bennett, a consultant with Moseley, presented a preferred master plan to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners on July 21 that lays out a multi-phase campus intended to consolidate several county offices and address department space shortages.

Bennett said the plan—identified in the presentation as Option 4—groups the administration building, health department, Department of Social Services (DSS) and land‑use offices around a central boulevard and a pedestrian spine. He said the plan includes phased development, built-in third‑floor “shells” to allow future expansion and cost projections for the first five years of work. “We set out with four very simple objectives for this master plan: create an environment that was safe, efficient, forward‑looking and beautiful,” Bennett said.

The consultant showed a cost model that includes contingency, design, furniture and so‑called soft costs; the model uses a 3.5 percent annual escalation…