Mohegan — Mohegan tribal officials say Gov. Ned Lamont assured them Monday that the state will soon act on an additional $7 million in bonding for the environmental cleanup of the former Norwich Hospital property in Preston, a nearly 400-acre site the tribe has long hoped to develop.

James Gessner Jr., the Mohegan chairman, and Chuck Bunnell, the tribe's chief of staff, met with the governor in Hartford. 

“I was pleased that the governor reaffirmed his commitment to Preston and informed me that the bonding for the cleanup should be done in the next few weeks,” Gessner said in a statement issued after the meeting.

A Lamont spokesman, David Bednarz, said the governor will take the tribal leaders' "concerns into consideration as discussions with legislative leaders regarding a bond package continue." 

In an earlier session Monday with reporters at the tribe's government center, Gessner, Bunnell and two other members of the Mohegan Tribal Council — William Quidgeon Jr. and John Harris — discussd the status of the project, known as Preston Riverwalk, which would be developed across the Thames River from Mohegan Sun, the tribe's flagship resort casino.

They called the project "a game-changer" for the region and a top priority of the council — second only to the tribe's ongoing development of an integrated resort in South Korea.

The tribe announced a conceptual plan for the development in the spring of 2017 after reaching a deal with Preston to take ownership of the property once the environmental cleanup is completed. The concept called for a theme park, a sports complex, an indoor water park, synthetic skiing, high-end RV camping, a marina, hotels, retail and senior housing.

The tribal officials said all of the components are still in the mix, along with proposals for traversing the Thames River, including gondolas, a tram and a seasonal ferry. Improvements to Routes 12 and 2A over the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge would require a partnership between the tribe and the state, they said.

Quidgeon said the tribe expects to receive a report from a development consulting firm in about 30 days with more specific proposals. He said the consulting firm is working with developers interested in particular parcels and is coordinating proposed projects that are complementary.

"We've given all our proposals to the consultant," Quidgeon said. "We want to make sure it works in connection with what we have here at Mohegan and for the town of Preston."

Tribal officials declined to name the consulting firm and said the pending report will first be presented to the tribal council for approval. No agreements have been signed with potential developers, Bunnell said.

Gessner said interested developers are eager to confirm plans as soon as possible and stressed that the Preston property is in competition with other sites worldwide for projects. Developers have "stood on the property" and looked across the river at Mohegan Sun and have spent large amounts of money preparing their development proposals, he said.

"That's why the urgency," Bunnell added, "because these are global players."

In October, Preston town officials and Mohegan tribal leaders requested the state provide a $7 million grant to be combined with a $2 million state loan the town had previously secured to remove extensive coal ash cinders the state had used for decades for roadbeds and parking lot sub-surfaces.

In recent weeks, state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, whose district includes Montville, has pushed for the funding to be placed in the next bond package to expedite the final cleanup and allow the town to transfer the property to the tribe.

On Friday, state Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, and state Rep. Mike France, R-Ledyard, sent a joint letter to Lamont supporting the cleanup funding.

“This type of development would be a massive economic boon to southeastern Connecticut and would provide jobs, revenue and additional tourist destinations,” the lawmakers wrote. “In closing, we ask that the bond package be expanded to include the request for final state cleanup of Preston Riverwalk so we can continue to invest in our state, our local towns and our citizens in eastern Connecticut.”

Day Staff Writer Brian Hallenbeck contributed to this report.

c.bessette@theday.com