New London - The grand redesign concept for the Fort Trumbull peninsula is to develop the area into an "attractive and lively mixed-use neighborhood'' that highlights its historic significance and scenic vistas and caters to pedestrians.

But implementing that concept around a section of the city that gained national attention when eminent domain was used to take some of the properties is another story.

"Visions are always more simple than the execution of them,'' said City Councilor Adam Sprecace, who brought the Yale Urban Design Workshop to the city to help rally residents around continued development of the controversial 90-acre site.

Work began months ago to try and heal the divide that erupted when some homeowners who refused to sell their property saw their eminent domain case go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the city's role was upheld as constitutional.

The half-inch-thick "Fort Trumbull Vision" will be discussed at tonight's City Council meeting. Professor Alan J. Plattus, director of the Yale workshop, will give a presentation at the 7 p.m. meeting at City Hall.

"Having a vision like this laid out, helps to attract developers,'' Sprecace said Friday. "We've identified what the community wants to see."

Building on the Fort Trumbull Municipal Development Plan, which was adopted in 2000, some of the new recommendations include building a bridge from Fort Trumbull across Shaw's Cove to link the isolated peninsula to downtown; creating a commuter train stop at the fort; and building a small New England-style seaside resort hotel with a banquet hall, conference center and spa that can be used by residents.

The area should be pedestrian friendly, with parking in the center of lots and behind buildings, and should cater to walkers and bicyclists. There are suggestions to revitalize the fishing pier, build a band shell at Fort Trumbull State Park for outdoor concerts; create an arts corridor on Hamilton Street; and develop a commercial recreational facility on Howard Street that could include a hockey rink, tennis courts and a health club.

At the moment the area is relatively bare, except for a four-story renovated office building. There is also a proposal pending by Riverbank Construction to build 80 to 100 housing units on one of the lots in Fort Trumbull.

The plan also calls for a public relations initiative to actively publicize, promote and market Fort Trumbull "to put a constructive image of Fort Trumbull back into the forefront of the regional and state agenda."

"Obviously New London has had its share of negative publicity,'' Sprecace said. "We have an opportunity here to present a piece of work that presents New London in a good light, if we get the community to buy in and rally behind the program.''

The plan also includes a section on "next steps" which lists goals, time-frames, partners and funding sources.

The next step, according to Sprecace, is creating a board or commission of representatives of the city, the New London Development Corp., preservationists and local design professionals, who would manage the recommendations in the report and ensure future development proposals comply.

He hopes the City Council accepts the report and starts discussions on establishing such a board and moving forward with plans for the site.

k.edgecomb@theday.com