That's a definite "no-brainer!" If they do notice, it will be years from now and then they will just freak out and make you take it down. Unless by BLM you mean the Beautiful Lovely Missus? That particular critter has the eyes of an eagle and notice any tiny encroachment, even an 1/8" addition to the side would be a nuclear issue!!!
She sometimes doesn't notice what I do with the layout......I am seriously considering adding a yard.....
Noticing from the overhead roll up door this is probably the garage which I would say this is your domain and as long as it does not interfere with the Missus parking her car go for it.
My main plan is to have a staging yard....masquerading as a real yard....half filled with 1950's cars and the other half cars from the 1980's...
It sounds like a good idea Bremner so I vote go for it. I'd like to do the same for my layout once it gets a bit farther along
Sounds like maybe a BRIBE in the future? "Dear, looks like that car is AWFUL big, maybe a NEW SMALLER CAR.........." BIG SMILE..... Maybe dinner OUT?
No layout is ever to big, is ever finished, is exactly what you pictured in the first place and can't be improved upon. Every layout should be designed with plans to expand. So go for it.
Adding a staging yard masquerading as a real yard is always a good idea to improve operations on the layout. Since the area being required for the expansion is not currently occupied, the chances for expansion sound very good. You'll just have to make sure you get pre-approved for the added funds required for this expansion from your Chief Financial Officer. If your CFO also holds the title of Bureau of Land Management, I say flowers and dinner are probably the order of the day .
When is the next time she will be out of town? Why don't you suggest she would be a good daughter and she should go visit her mother during this stressful time? Hey, it worked for me once, and I used the weekend to build a staging yard in the guest bedroom next to the layout room.
Probably the corona virus thing, eh? Bad timing, I guess. BTW, I had a garage layout for a while. When building, don't forget the angle of the garage door when it raises/lowers, especially if you happen to build a valence over that section. Don't ask how I know this.....