Saint Helena council upholds permit for private Andrea Bocelli dinner at Monte Olivos Estate

The Saint Helena City Council on June 10 voted unanimously to uphold the Planning Commission's conditional approval of a temporary use permit allowing a private Andrea Bocelli dinner and entertainment event at the Monte Olivos Estate, 2500 Spring Mountain Road, on June 20, 2025.

Senior planner Jackie O'Neil told the council the permit (TUP 25-005) would allow a maximum attendance of 600 guests, site activity from roughly 4:30 p.m. with a hard stop at 10 p.m., and live entertainment ending at 9:30 p.m. “Staff is recommending that the council determines that the project is exempt from the requirements of CEQA and uphold and approve the resolution upholding the planning commission's approval of TUP 25-005,” O'Neil said.

The permit was originally approved by the Planning Commission on May 20; an appeal filed May 22 suspended that approval while the City Council considered the matter de novo. Councilmember Aaron Barrick moved to adopt the staff recommendation; the council voted yes (Barrick, Spatarotto, Vice Mayor Deasy and Mayor Doreen), and the permit was approved.

City staff, the applicant and public safety officials described a set of conditions and mitigation measures the council relied on in making its decision. The event will use parking at Charles Krug Winery with shuttle transport to the estate; the applicant's operations plan calls for staggered arrivals beginning about 4:30 p.m. and two return waves at about 9:30…