Greece approves special‑use permit for M6 Studio hotel at 600 Center Place Drive with strict operating conditions

The Town of Greece Town Board voted July 16 to grant a special‑use permit to M6 Studio Rochester Greece USA LLC to operate a 114‑room hotel at 600 Center Place Drive, subject to detailed conditions intended to address prior problems at the property. Councilman Spencer Bernard moved the resolution; Councilman David DePonzio seconded the motion and the board approved it.

Applicant counsel Jacob Zoglin told the board the new owners purchased the property in March and have worked with the fire marshal and building inspector to clean and repair the site. “They've worked with contractors to address that, and they've made significant headway in cleaning things up,” Zoglin said during the public hearing. He said the property is in a hotel‑zoned area and that the special‑use criteria are satisfied because the use is consistent with surrounding development.

Neighbors raised safety and nuisance concerns. Tim Tartaglia asked whether the hotel would provide 24‑hour staffing and security; hotel employee Valerie Ayers described repeated disturbances she said she has observed while working early morning shifts at the adjacent Homewood Suites. “The drunks that come in and beg us for coffee…it's not something I need to see at 04:00 in the morning,” Ayers said.

Applicant representatives described multiple operational changes to address those concerns: a front‑desk presence 24 hours a day, weekly housekeeping, a requirement for a credit card and a $100 security deposit for incidentals, cashless operations to limit problematic cash transactions, higher nightly rates (targeted $80–$100), and a plan for an on‑site general manager. Bridal Bortle, identified as head of operations, said the prior operator left significant unpaid balances: “We had about $82,000 odd pending dues to them,” she said, and described plans to reposition the property as a corporate‑grade extended‑stay franchise.

Councilman Bernard and town staff described the results of a July 16 inspection: all guests had been removed and staff observed progress on life‑safety work such as new smoke alarms; a handful of 'punch‑list' items remain to be completed. Town staff recommended conditional approval tied to a certificate of compliance. Town Attorney Kevin Overton summarized enforcement options, including a revocation hearing if the hotel fails to meet permit conditions.

The special‑use permit resolution contains a long list of conditions, including (excerpted): - limit individual guest occupancy to no more than 28 consecutive days, and block automatic re‑reservation of the same room without a 7‑day break; - maintain a guest registry (names, addresses, room assignments, dates of stay, vehicle info when available) retained for three years; - require valid government‑issued photo identification at check‑in; - operate a digital video surveillance system with exterior and interior coverage, operating 24/7 and retaining footage for 30 days; - staff the hotel 24 hours per day, seven days per week; - contract for overnight security to the police chief's satisfaction; - implement ongoing pest monitoring and housekeeping (at least weekly); - repair and restripe parking areas and complete landscaping within 90 days; - require a certificate of compliance from the building inspector and any other required permits (e.g., Department of Health) prior to opening; - return to the town board on Dec. 10, 2026 for a compliance review; - permit becomes void on sale/transfer outside the applicant's ownership structure.

The board approved the permit with these conditions by voice vote. Town staff said they will monitor compliance and that revocation procedures exist if conditions are not met.