Elon Musk's Starbase City Warns Residents Over Property Rights
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Some residents in Starbase, the Texan base of SpaceX, which was formally established as a new city earlier this month, have received letters from the city administrator warning they may "lose the right to continue using your property for its current use," according to CNBC.
Newsweek contacted Starbase and SpaceX for comment on Friday via email.
Why It Matters
Over the past few months, Musk has acted not only as one of the world's most influential business leaders but also as a key figure in Donald Trump's second administration as de facto head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The letter acquired by CNBC suggests the SpaceX-affiliated leadership of Starbase is committed to further developing the settlement as the company works towards Musk's ultimate stated aim of turning humanity into a "multi-planetary civilization."
What To Know
CNBC said it had acquired a letter sent by Starbase city administrator Kent Myers to some of the city's residents on May 21, inviting them to a public hearing to discuss "the adoption of a Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and city wide Zoning Map" on June 23.
Those who received the letters were told they lived in a proposed "Mixed Use District" that would allow "for a blend of residential, office, retail, and small-scale service uses."
It added: "The City is required by Texas law to notify you of the following: THE CITY OF STARBASE IS HOLDING A HEARING THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER YOU MAY LOSE THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE USING YOUR PROPERTY FOR ITS CURRENT USE."
Stock photograph of SpaceX's Starbase pictured in July 2021.
Stock photograph of SpaceX's Starbase pictured in July 2021.
Wirestock/GETTY
Anyone living in the area who wants to submit a written comment is instructed to submit it to Myers by 3 p.m. on June 22.
According to the Texas Tribune, Starbase has around 500 residents, of whom 260 are SpaceX employees, while most of the rest are their families.
Residents of Starbase voted 173 to 4 to establish a new city at the Cameron County site, which was formally known as Boca Chica Village. NBC News reported the election resulted in the election of Bobby Peden as the first Starbase mayor and Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka as city commissioners. Peden, Buss and Petrzelka are all SpaceX employees who ran unopposed, according to the network.
Starbase covers a 1.6 square mile area owned by SpaceX, which includes the launch facility used by the company to launch its Starship rockets, which Musk hopes will one day take humans to Mars.
SpaceX conducted the ninth Starship test flight on May 27 when the launch vehicle reached space, unlike the previous two tests, but then spun out of control and disintegrated.
What People Are Saying
The letter said: "Our goal is to ensure that the zoning plan reflects the City's vision for balanced growth, protecting critical economic drivers, ensuring public safety, and preserving green spaces. You are receiving this notice because you own the above listed property that will be located in the 'Mixed Use District' and will be impacted if the zoning ordinance is approved."
Earlier on his X platform, Musk wrote: "Starbase, Texas Is now a real city!"
What Happens Next
Starbase's new status as a city will allow SpaceX to craft new laws for the base, helping to facilitate its rocket development and launch program, including Starship, which is expected to form the basis of NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and put them on Mars for the first time.
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