Texas approves Elon Musk's plan to establish a city
Rebirth at Boca Chica: How SpaceX's Starbase Takes Control
In a landslide victory, the residents of a small community surrounding SpaceX's rocket-launch site in South Texas have voted to create Starbase, Texas as their own city, effectively granting Elon Musk's empire a unique degree of autonomy.
By a knockout 212 to 6, a sea of SpaceX employees and their families proved the hyper-local government a no-brainer. Results posted on the county election website showcased a powerful endorsement of the incorporation effort.
In this 3.76km2 territory, the voters' pack boasts an almost exclusive affiliation with SpaceX, whose massive manufacturing facility dominates the landscape. The newly-established city commission, all hailing from the ranks of SpaceX, now holds power over zoning, building projects, and other essential elements of daily life within Starbase.
Photograph: AP
Over the past seven years, SpaceX has transformed Boca Chica from a serene retirement community into a bustling hub for the development of its powerful Starship rocket—the ship of dreams for Musk's interplanetary colonization vision. However, the company has faced challenges in providing adequate housing for its hundreds of employees eager to live close to its headquarters. A proposed project to build more townhouses found itself on the backburner due to county opposition. Currently, a population of approximately 500 call Starbase home, with an additional 3,100 workers commuting daily from Brownsville and surrounding areas.
Becoming a city extends SpaceX's reach beyond the conventional corporate realms. As a Type C municipality under Texas law, Starbase will govern itself with a simplified local government structure that:
- Manages Zoning: Independently controlling zoning regulations, aligning development with SpaceX's objectives and growth plans.
- Levies Property Taxes: Authority to impose property taxes up to 1.5%, offering a new revenue stream for local developments.
- Streamlines Launch Operations: Efficient management of launch operations without county approvals, paving the way for faster testing and development processes.
This newfound autonomy could fuel operational efficiency, economic growth, community development, and innovation in urban planning and space exploration. Critics, however, voice concerns about environmental impact and corporate influence over local governance. As SpaceX embarks on this pioneering journey, it remains to be seen how it will navigate these challenges while capitalizing on the opportunities this exclusive city status offers.
In this newly established city, the autonomous government, formed primarily by SpaceX employees, will oversee zoning regulations that align with SpaceX's objectives and growth plans for the Starship rocket development, setting a foundation for increased operational efficiency. Additionally, as a Type C municipality under Texas law, Starbase will have the ability to levy property taxes and streamline launch operations, providing resources for local developments and fostering technological advancements in space-and-astronomy and science.
