THE CONTESTED BOUNDARIES: LASTING TENSIONS IN PLANNING BETWEEN KIRYAS JOEL AND NEIGHBORING TOWNS

This paper explores the long-standing tensions between Kiryas Joel, a rapidly growing Hasidic Jewish community in Orange County, New York, and its neighboring towns. These tensions are not only about land, water, and funding but also reflect deeper struggles over identity, governance, and rights. Using a case-based approach, the research combines field observations, document analysis, site visits, and informal interviews. The paper examines how these conflicts unfolded through key events such as land annexation, water pipeline debates, and disputes over public funding and education. It argues that space is not only shaped by politics but also generates new political struggles. This case highlights how planning institutions and actors navigate these complex conflicts, showing that space, infrastructure, and borders become tools and symbols in ongoing struggles over community identity and control.