Here's a great link with a small N Scale plan. I really like the page as the author discusses the operation of the layout - Also has a great yard design. Just cuz you have a small layout does not mean you don't need a well designed yard. http://users.iafrica.com/c/ca/caroper/tutorial/challenge.htm
Rob, I have bookmarked the layout so I can throw it in here from time to time. If you come across others like that, I will do the same.
If you want to see a version of this actually being built, you can see what I am doing at my Adrisport & Codyville RR It is a lot of fun to build and run.
I visited your site. You have done a first rate job on your layout. I don't think you will going DCC on a smaller layout. With smaller layouts, DCC is even more helpful as the frequency of block throwing is even higher with shorter spans between blocks. So you DCC will save you frustration and time.
Using DCC on the small layout has been great. A friend and I were able to have 4 engines running (1 in Adrisport, 1 in Codyville and 2 running automatically around the layout) without having to worry about a single switch!!! Now when I think about small layouts and multiple engines, I do so with DCC in mind.