Preston — The Preston Redevelopment Agency on Wednesday embraced many of the proposals and concepts contained in a 49-page report by a group of national real estate development consultants and will start tackling major points at a workshop meeting June 17.

The Counselors of Real Estate recommended that the former Norwich Hospital property be dubbed the “Riverwalk @ Preston” and be positioned at the centerpiece of regional development along what it termed the Thames River Valley Region.

The group repeatedly praised the PRA for its accomplishments in obtaining grants and loans and overseeing the environmental cleanup and demolition of the 393-acre former mental illness hospital, but said the agency is at a crossroads. Planning, marketing and developing are much different tasks, the CRE group said, and the agency should consider restructuring itself to move to the next step.

The 10 agency members started Wednesday’s discussion by offering their initial impressions of the report and its recommendations and agreeing with member Andy Depta’s idea to hold a workshop meeting to start addressing the issues. Chairman Sean Nugent suggested the first task by the structure of the agency itself.

The CRE report offered three options to consider: divide the 10-member agency into subcommittees, shrink the agency with individuals taking leadership on certain tasks or hiring an outside planner or economic development specialist.

The workshop will be held at 7 p.m. June 17 at Town Hall.

Nugent said he will raise the issue of PRA structure Thursday night at the Board of Selectmen meeting as well.

Another major question will be whether the PRA wants to write a master plan of development to guide placement of specific projects, such as a hotel, retail space, residential housing and commercial entities.

Nugent said he will contact the University of Connecticut and the Yale Urban Design Workshop — which recently unveiled a plan for the Thames River Heritage Park in Groton and New London — to learn what technical assistance might be available.

While Wednesday’s discussion was not meant to address specific development, several members commented on the recommendation that the PRA first consider developing a marina — especially noting the difficult task of reaching an agreement with the Providence & Worcester Railroad to upgrade the active freight railroad crossing near the riverbank.

The CRE report said moving forward with a marina plan would force the agency “to clarify things with the railroad.” But PRA members said a marina also would likely be one of the more costly development proposals, requiring state and federal environmental permits and possibly dredging.

PRA members agreed that a marina also would bring desired regional attention to the Riverwalk property.

To pursue the concept of the Thames River Valley District, Nugent said Preston should work with the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region, which also is reorganizing itself using subcommittees.

The new CRE report is posted on SeCTer’s website, and the Riverwalk property is considered by the agency as a top priority for development in the region.

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday