My experience with comprehensive planning is that it is a mixed bag. As already has been seen with the SHPO, most governmental institutions cannot justify major expenses or modifications to their property without extensive analysis of the costs/benefits and possible side effects. We are both lucky to heve this for the protection of assets (and our environment) but also hampered by it when some things, though seemingly easy to do, become over-complicated.
An example of good planning by private groups include the IRM campus of barns and shops. An example of good public planning (although somewhat irrelevant because of funding allocations and ownership issues) is the master plans drawn up ten years ago for the EBT. Perhaps somewhere in between falls the C&TS.
Planning can be slow, an by the time it is completed, irrelevant. But not always... Plan guidelines can be adopted early and put into effect (destroy no pre 1970's buildings, try to replicate a given era, use original-type materials for neccessary additions, limit the height of new things, protect given areas from radical rearrangements... etc...etc...etc...).
Given the involvement of government at the C&TS, planning undoubtably would involve the a committee that included governmental and public interests, provide opportunity for public comment, and hopefully would be funded by the government resources (Oh no. another need for money from the legislatures!). Planning, even not so good planning, makes it easier to route funds to a project by better justification.
I liked the idea of the Friends of the C&TS buying their own land and building their own building. If they do so, the next consideration is would they rather pay for the insurance on it and keep it as their own? On the other hand, would the States' accept it as a gift unless it met certain strict criteria? If it were a private facitily, would the equipment of the state be allowed to be stored and restored there?
I hope you consider these views relevant. The funny thing is that I have never been to the narrow guage circle!
Olin Anderson.