Farm Set For New Lease In Holmdel After Months Of Uncertainty

HOLMDEL, NJ — A local farm is on track to continue its farming business in Holmdel after the Township Committee introduced the farm's bid for a new lease agreement with the town at a recent committee meeting.

Ordinance 2025-19, which calls for the town to approve a lease agreement with Patrick DePalma, the owner of DePalma Farms & Greenhouses, was approved by committee members at the July 22 meeting (Committeeman DJ Luccarelli was absent) after DePalma was the only bidder to emerge for the lease.

Now that the committee has approved the ordinance, the town will host a public hearing for its final passage and adoption at the Township Committee’s Aug. 12 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.

“My client, Patrick DePalma, is very pleased that Holmdel Township has awarded him a five-year lease on the DePalma homestead property,” Sarah Biser, DePalma’s attorney, said in an email statement to Patch.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Holmdel Township has not responded to Patch's request for comment.

Approval of Ordinance 2025-19 came after a long battle between DePalma and the town to renew the farm’s lease.

Known in the local community for their various plants and produce (ranging from corn to tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins and more), DePalma Farms is a family-run farm that was first established in 1917.

In 2000, Holmdel Township and the farm agreed to a 25-year lease and verbal agreement, according to farm manager Patrick DePalma (the son of farm owner, Patrick M. DePalma).

Once DePalma was made aware that the farm's lease would expire in June 2025, he requested a lease extension with the town, which was later denied.

According to township officials, the extension could not be granted because NJ Local Lands & Buildings law requires them to put the property lease up for public bid to guard against “favoritism, improvidence, extravagance, and corruption" and to secure "the benefits of unfettered competition" for the public.

In a complaint DePalma filed against Holmdel Township and the Holmdel Township Committee after the land lease went up for bid, DePalma argued that the bidding law the town used contains an exception for leases of real property for agricultural and horticultural use that could be applied to DePalma Farms.

Pending execution of DePalma’s new lease with the town to engage in farming on the homestead property, Biser said they have agreed to dismiss the lawsuit, which is pending in Monmouth County Superior Court.

To see the full agenda for the July 22 meeting or read Ordinance 2025-19, you can click here.

To watch a recording of the Township Committee’s July 22 meeting, you can watch here.

Previous Coverage

• Holmdel To Vote On Action To Restrict Development At DePalma Farms & Greenhouses
• 'DePalma Is The History Here': Holmdel Community Rallies For Local Farm At Town Meeting
• Local Farm Sues Holmdel Township After Land Lease Goes Up For Bid