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8314993 
Journal Article 
Facing Down the So-Called Agenda 21 'Conspiracy' 
Dernbach, JC 
2015 
81 
2 
20-24 
English 
Mount Gretna, PA, seems an unlikely spot for an international conspiracy. This small town is set in a valley surrounded by forest and open land, and it has a distinctive look: Its closely spaced Victorian houses and summer cottages are sheltered by mature trees, rhododendrons, and mountain laurel. But in 2013, antigovernment activists threatened and ultimately weakened two local land-use plans by claiming that an obscure agreement negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations more than two decades ago -- Agenda 21 -- was influencing decision makers who were not even aware of its existence. More broadly, this story is part of a little-known national park on land-use and planning laws -- one that is undermining the ability of some local government. Pennsylvania is divided into 2,562 municipalities. To help bolster regional land use, state law allows municipalities to engage in multi-municipal planning. 
Housing And Urban Planning; Local government; Area planning & development; Sustainable development; Supervisors; United States--US; Pennsylvania; 9190:United States; 92512:Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development; 1200:Social policy; 9550:Public sector