the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Montvale NJ, the fight over the future of Montvale’s former DePiero Farm has escalated, moving from a public bidding process to a heated courtroom battle.
Mayor Mike Ghassali has stated clearly: The land is staying a working farm, period. The controversy isn’t if it will be a farm, but who will run it—and the answer hinges on a December court decision.
Montvale Taxpayers Win Big, But Controversy Brews
When the Borough of Montvale acquired the property on Craig Road for agricultural and recreational use, they were required to put the lease out for public bid. Three sealed bids were submitted, but the winner was clear from a financial standpoint:
| Bidder | Annual Payment to Montvale |
| D’Agostino Landscaping (Winning Bidder) | $43,200 |
| Demarest Farm & Orchard LLC | $12,000 |
| Other Bidder | $12,000 |
The winning bid from D’Agostino Landscaping is a staggering 73% higher than the others—a difference of approximately $750,000 over the 20-year lease term. Borough Attorney David Lafferty noted that the public interest “is overwhelmingly in favor of the award” due to the financial benefit to the town.
The Legal Challenge: The 10-Mile Technicality
Despite the clear financial benefit, Demarest Farm & Orchard LLC, a popular and respected Hillsdale farm, is contesting the lease award in Superior Court.
The core of Demarest Farm’s complaint, filed October 30th, alleges that D’Agostino Landscaping’s bid should be voided because:
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Distance Violation: D’Agostino’s operations allegedly lie more than 10 miles from the DePiero site, which Demarest Farm claims violates a key specification in the public bid.
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Qualification: Demarest Farm claims D’Agostino operates a nursery, not a retail commercial farm, and lacks the necessary local infrastructure and expertise for the required working farm lease.
In response, D’Agostino’s counsel has asserted that their company does own a commercial farm within 8.1 miles of the DePiero property, citing state law definitions. They also highlight over a decade of experience working with the former DePiero Farm, arguing they are “uniquely qualified” to continue the land’s traditional use.
The Decisive Date: Court Hearing on December 8th
The fate of the 20-year lease will be decided by Superior Court Judge Gregg Padovano. The judge will hear arguments on December 8th at the Hackensack courthouse.
For Montvale residents and North Jersey farm enthusiasts, this court ruling will determine who manages the highly-visible 8.4-acre former DePiero property, shaping its future agricultural and recreational uses, including potential farmstands, orchards, and community events.
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