Musk’s SpaceX town warns residents of proposed changes to property use

Residents of Starbase, Texas, have been alerted that they may risk losing their current property usage rights, as indicated in a memo acquired by CNBC. This town, known as the home of Elon Musk's SpaceX, is contemplating a new zoning ordinance and citywide map. The notification, directed at property owners within a proposed "Mixed Use District," would permit various uses including residential, office, retail, and small-scale services. A public hearing is scheduled for June 23 to discuss the potential zoning changes and the accompanying map for the area. Kent Myers, the new city administrator for Starbase, signed the notice. Neither representatives from Starbase nor SpaceX provided comments when approached for further information. Starbase, designated as a "type-C municipal corporation," was officially established earlier this month after SpaceX's victory in a local election, and is now managed by officials who are either current or former SpaceX employees. The town has a small population of around 500, with approximately 260 residents directly employed by SpaceX, according to reports from the Texas Tribune. Most others residing in Starbase are family members of SpaceX staff. The company town encompasses the launch facility used for SpaceX's Starship rocket test flights and spans a 1.6-square-mile area. Starbase is also convening its inaugural city commission meeting on Thursday, just two days following SpaceX's ninth test flight of the Starship rocket, which ended in an explosion—marking a significant setback for the aerospace company. Following this incident, Musk emphasized the importance of analyzing the data and extracting lessons from the failures. The FAA confirmed that there were no reports of injuries or damage to public property as of Wednesday. The Starship system is designed for transporting people and cargo on Earth and to the Moon, with Musk's vision extending to the potential colonization of Mars. Since 2008, SpaceX has secured over $20 billion in government contracts and is projected to receive several billion dollars annually in the coming years. Transforming Starbase into a company town would grant SpaceX increased flexibility in building, testing, or launching operations from its Texas Gulf Coast facility. The town is currently seeking permission to close a primary road and nearby beaches for launch activities without needing further municipal approvals. The zoning memo sent to Starbase residents includes an invitation to the public hearing, emphasizing the significance of the proposed zoning ordinance and its potential impact on property usage rights.