Sparty's Night Club is suing Lansing Township after the township turned down an application for a permit allowing topless entertainment in their club, township officials said.

The permit would be an amendment to the night club's current liquor license, said township clerk Susan Aten.

The township is denying the permit, arguing it is not allowed in their ordinances, Aten said, adding that the area where Sparty's is located, 410 S. Clippert St., is not zoned to allow for topless entertainment.

"We're just following the law of the township, which is the township ordinance, at this point," Aten said.

She said the ordinance was amended in the early 1990s, and states that eating, drinking and entertainment must be done fully clothed.

A representative from Sparty's could not be reached for comment, but Aten said the night club's management has said the township ordinance is unconstitutional.

Lansing City Council approved a resolution Monday night in support of the township's decision, and is sending a recommendation to the MSU Board of Trustees and East Lansing, requesting they adopt similar resolutions of support, said Brian Jeffries, at-large city council member.

He said the council passed the resolution in support of the township's decision, he said.

Nancy Parsons, president of the Eastside Neighborhood Organization in Lansing, said the new permit is a bad idea.

"It's a very bad location for this," Parsons said. "It just doesn't bring anything positive to the community, and that's what we're trying to work on."

But Morgan Yates, a manager at nearby Bake N' Cakes, 3003 E. Kalamazoo St., said the topless entertainment wouldn't hurt her business.

"None of the businesses here are open at night, so I don't see a problem with it," Yates said.

The Michigan Liquor Control Commission issues permits for entertainment, liquor, topless and nude entertainment. The commission will not approve the club's application unless the local jurisdiction approves it, Aten said.