From the City's own records

They call us NIMBYs.

In emails with City staff, the developer of Etiwanda Heights dismissed online criticism of the project as "tinfoil hat conspiracy theories." The City's Planning Director used the same label for residents that the developer did. Here are those emails, and what we say back.

Illustration, not a rendering of Etiwanda Heights

On January 6, 2026, days before The Previti Group's community meeting on Etiwanda Heights, Previti's Vice President of Planning and the City's Planning Director exchanged emails about residents who opposed the project. Those emails are now part of the City's administrative record.

The images below are the original pages. The yellow highlighting is ours; nothing else has been changed. Click any page or AR number to open it in the full record.

In their own words

The developer: tinfoil hat conspiracy theories

Local online community groups had declined to post Previti's "fact sheet." Previti's Vice President of Planning, Andrew Wennerstrom, wrote to the City's Planning Director to complain.

He contrasted "informed questions" with "tinfoil hat conspiracy theories" circulating online, called the group moderators "These NIMBY individuals," and said Previti would "certainly be mentioning that at the City Council public hearing."

He also asked the City to pass the developer's fact sheet along to residents who had contacted the City. These emails don't show whether the City did.

Email from Andrew Wennerstrom of The Previti Group to Planning Director Jennifer Nakamura, January 6, 2026, referring to tinfoil hat conspiracy theories and NIMBY individuals.
AR 9344 January 6, 2026, 11:32 AM

The City's Planning Director: the NIMBY's will likely want to be heard loudest

Thirteen minutes later, Planning Director Jennifer Nakamura replied. She told Previti its experience with the social media groups was "very unfortunate," said she would loop in her team, and adopted the developer's label for residents.

Previti answered that he would staff the meeting station "that will attract the loud NIMBYs," where he planned to address "the false notion of 'High Density Housing.'" The Planning Director forwarded the exchange to the City Manager and two other City staff with a one-word note: "FYI."

On December 18, nineteen days earlier, the same Planning Director told a resident she had recommended Previti meet with the community, and that she couldn't recall a developer in 20 years refusing AR 9332. Writing to the developer, she used his label for those residents.

Is "high density" a false notion? Four months earlier, the City Manager warned Previti that one building type it wanted "can be as dense as 30-35 DU per acre" AR 9290.

Email exchange between Planning Director Jennifer Nakamura and Andrew Wennerstrom, January 6, 2026, including the phrases the NIMBY's will likely want to be heard loudest and the loud NIMBYs.
AR 9343 January 6, 2026, 11:45 AM to 2:49 PM

That evening, the developer's fact sheet reached the Mayor and Council

At 6:33 PM the same day, City Manager Elisa Cox forwarded Previti's fact sheet to the Mayor and all four Council members, noting Previti planned to share it at its community meeting and on social media.

Her note was neutral, and she forwarded the fact sheet only, not the emails above. The message went to the officials' personal and campaign email accounts rather than City addresses.

Email from City Manager Elisa Cox to the Mayor and City Council, January 6, 2026, forwarding the developer's fact sheet.
AR 9350 January 6, 2026, 6:33 PM

Not everyone at City Hall sees residents that way

The same record shows City officials taking residents' concerns seriously. We think that's worth showing too.

"We believe it would be poor planning, create community outrage, and makes no sense to have 35 DU literally 10' away from 6 DU."

City Manager John Gillison, to Previti's attorneys AR 9290

"I too would be very concerned if there were 20 to 29 units per acre proposed to be built adjacent to my neighborhood."

Mayor Dennis Michael, to a resident AR 9359

"To be totally fair, some of the concerns are valid."

Planning Commissioner Dopp, to Previti at the December 10, 2025 hearing AR 2281

They meant it as an insult. We'll wear it.

Neighbors Insisting on Meaningful Balance, Yes!

The 2019 Etiwanda Heights plan was shaped with residents' input. We're asking for the balance it promised: homes that fit the neighborhoods around them, the parks and open space the original plan called for, and a real answer on how families get out when the foothills burn.

Asking those questions isn't a conspiracy theory. It's how a community gets heard.

See how the developer's claims compare to the record →