'DePalma Is The History Here': Holmdel Community Rallies For Local Farm At Town Meeting

HOLMDEL, NJ — Community members filled Holmdel Town Hall on Friday morning to rally for the lease extension or renewal of DePalma Farms & Greenhouses, a local farm that’s been run by the DePalma family for 100 years.

Dating back to 1917, the farm was purchased by Holmdel Township in 2000 with a 25-year lease and verbal agreement, farm manager Patrick DePalma (the son of farm owner Patrick M. DePalma) said.

The farm has provided produce, plants and more to residents over the years, but has also faced its own struggles, such as lost acres of produce due to a lack of fencing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once DePalma was made aware that the farm lease was about to expire at the end of June, he began working on a renewal and requested an emergency five-year extension with the town, which he said was denied.

On Friday, the Holmdel Township Committee passed a resolution to restrict development at DePalma Farms, but also voted to put the land out for bid after leaving an executive session held toward the end of the meeting.

“With the [former Holmdel] committee, 25 years ago, it was said to us that we could extend our lease when the lease was up,” DePalma said at Friday’s meeting. “...It was a shaking of a hand, and they told us it could have been done. I don’t know why this committee isn’t honoring that.”

According to Township Attorney Michael Collins, NJ Local Lands & Buildings law outlines that real property owned by a municipality and leased to a private party is subject to bidding. Collins went on to say that the bidding statutes guard against “favoritism, improvidence, extravagance, corruption,” and secure “the benefits of unfettered competition” for the public.

Sarah Biser, DePalma’s attorney, argued that a NJ state statute could allow the town to renew the farm’s lease, as the purpose of the statute is “to retain agricultural or horticultural use based upon a prior lease of the property.”

“It appears to me that you are totally disregarding a New Jersey state statute that wants to encourage agricultural, horticultural use to someone who was a prior lease,” Biser told the committee.

During the meeting, Holmdel Mayor Brian Foster said the actions of the 2000 committee predate the current members. He went on to say that the town “cannot legally extend the bid on a no-bid basis,” and even if they could, Foster argued that doing so would harm Holmdel taxpayers.

“The [lease] extension as requested would mean the Township may lose money, which would leave taxpayers to subsidize a private farm operation that was given favoritism,” Foster said.

“The Township has no issue with Mr. DePalma and has honored the lease for all 25 years with them,” Foster continued. “They are welcome to bid, and if they win, the Township looks forward to continuing with them as their landlord. The Township Committee is committed to following the law and protecting taxpayers, regardless of misinformation and pressure.”

Throughout the meeting, residents took to the floor to voice their support for DePalma Farms and call for an extension to their lease or a full renewal.

One resident, MaryEllen Principe, questioned why the farm’s lease can’t be “grandfathered in” and asked what constitutes a temporary extension if the DePalmas’ five-year lease request isn’t considered as such.

In response, Collins said the committee is obligated to carry out what’s been recorded (such as the farm’s deed, lease, contract, etc.) and is bound by state law.

Foster added that the committee "will not go outside the lines of what’s in the law” and what’s written in the lease, though he did say the committee will switch the end date of the farm’s current lease from June 30 to January 1 so the growing season isn't interrupted.

“I’m not asking you to go outside the law,” Principe responded. “But I’m sure, after all these years, there’s something you guys can do for the DePalma family.”

Another resident, Stephanie Kraus, said she just moved to Holmdel a year ago with her family and described the situation with DePalma Farms as “very disheartening.”

“One of the things that drew us to Holmdel was the open spaces, the farmland, and the charm,” Kraus said. “This is all very disheartening to hear that we’re not backing our farmers. I feel like Holmdel was built on the backs of farmers, and we’re not backing our farmers today. It’s very upsetting to see what’s going on.”

Deborah Talith, a 30-year resident of Holmdel, gets all her flowers from DePalma Farms and said she came to Holmdel “because of the country feel, because of DePalma Farms.” She urged the committee to look at statutes brought up during the meeting by Biser and former Deputy Mayor Prakash Santhana to see if they could apply to the farm.

“I just went and visited Holmdel Park,” Talith said. “I listened to the docent talk about the history of the farm, the lady who lived there for so long, and all the buildings that you’re protecting, and I visited those buildings and appreciated the history here.”

“DePalma is the history here,” Talith continued. “He’s asking for five years — look at these statues, please, because we want to see DePalma stay there as long as he possibly can.”

Amidst resident concerns, Deputy Mayor Kim LaMountain said that while the town’s goal is open space and protecting farms they have left, Holmdel has to “go about doing it the right way.”

“We are not trying to fight against the DePalmas,” LaMountain said. “And if there was a loss of revenue [at the farm], my heart breaks because I know how many people went through hardships as a result of COVID. This is not about hurting people, it’s ‘how do we get to the right answer, the right way?’”

But with the farm now going out to bid, Patrick DePalma worries that he and his family could be evicted if another bidder wins the bidding process. His family’s history is embedded in the land, and both the farm and greenhouses are his livelihood.

“I’m in disbelief at what’s happening to a lifetime farm that’s been in Holmdel Township and is trying to stay there,” DePalma said at the committee meeting. "...You're taking my livelihood away. How would you feel if this was you standing here? What would you do?"

“This outcome saddens me,” he later told Patch. “They broke my heart.”

To watch a full recording of Friday’s meeting, you can watch Part I and Part II.

Previous Coverage

• Holmdel To Vote On Action To Restrict Development At DePalma Farms & Greenhouses