East Lansing and Lansing Township are embarking on a new partnership.

East Lansing will be providing the sewer services to the new 190-acre Eastwood Towne Center retail complex, which includes an 18-screen theater, on the northwest corner of Lake Lansing Road and U.S. 127.

“For the project to get off the ground an essential component was providing sewer,” East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows said. “There was a need that we could fill with regards to development.

“We saw this as an opportunity to work cooperatively with an adjoining township.”

The East Lansing City Council and Lansing Township trustees approved the partnerships in meetings May 22.

“I think East Lansing has some things that other communities are looking for,” East Lansing Councilmember Beverly Baten said. “I think it is a good idea to share when we have the opportunity.”

For providing the sewer services, East Lansing will receive about $150,000 a year from property taxes as well as any sewer fees, East Lansing City Manager Ted Staton said. As of yet, the revenue has not been earmarked for any specific purpose.

“We felt being part of this made political, financial and practical sense,” he said.

John Daher, supervisor of Lansing Township, said developer Michael Eyde had three choices when deciding whose sewer utilities to use: DeWitt Township, Lansing or East Lansing.

But DeWitt did not have the capabilities to service the center and negotiations with Lansing broke down.

East Lansing can begin rerouting sewer lines to the center any time, said Eyde, owner of Land One, 2501 Coolidge Road, and the retail center’s property.

“We are shooting for groundbreaking in July,” he said. “People should see buildings going up this fall.”

The shopping center will be the only area in Lansing Township serviced by East Lansing - the rest of the township uses Lansing’s utilities.

“We expect some bumps in the road,” Daher said. “When looking at a development of this magnitude there are bound to be some hiccups along the way, but we’ll get through it.”