Johnston County's population has nearly doubled in the last two years and local planning officials here are anticipating that growth to continue at an even faster pace.

"With the rate of growth here, it's been difficult for the county administration to keep up, but we're working in that regard and I think it's going to get better," said James L. "Skip" Browder, planning director for the town of Clayton.

More than 4,000 families are expected to move to this bedroom community in the next two years-mimicking growth in many of the counties included in the Triangle, he said. With at least two developments, Baltimore and Riverwalk, about 4,400 homes are planned.

"We are part of the Triangle now," Browder said. "And we learn from each other because all of (these communities) are facing the same problems."

With those new neighbors comes a heightened need for stewardship, according to Susan Woodard with the Johnston County Soil and Water Conservation District. She said that although growth brings new jobs and business opportunities, it also brings more people, more cars and more pollution.

"We want good growth while maintaining the environmental integrity of this region," she said. "We want these newcomers to be good neighbors."

As portions of the new developments will be built along the Neuse River, the county's primary water source, it's also important for builders to be conscious of the environmental impact, said Jamie Massey, district director for the Johnston County Soil and Water Conservation District.

"We get copies of proposed neighborhoods at planning meetings, but because we are non-regulatory, we can only make suggestions for building," he said.

Browder and other town officials attribute part of the upswing in new-home developments to a planned Highway 70 bypass set to open sometime next year. Right now, the growth is outpacing infrastructure, but that's changing.

For now, many residents live in Clayton or Smithfield and are commuting to work in Raleigh.

"In ten years I see Johnston County doubled in size-continuing to grow in a planned and managed fashion," he added. "Our goal here is to make Johnston County a great place to work, live and play."