Residents near the southern tip of Texas are poised to vote this weekend on a measure that would officially establish the area around Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launch site as the city of Starbase. The outcome appears predetermined, as the limited number of eligible voters largely includes individuals who work for the company or live with an employee.
The proposed city encompasses about 1.5 square miles near Boca Chica and the border with Mexico. The location hosts SpaceX facilities and some residences, including a home owned by Musk himself on Memes Street.
Company officials have offered limited public statements on the city plan, initially proposed by Musk in 2021. However, a central issue highlighted by the proposal involves local control over public access, particularly to Boca Chica Beach.
Currently, closing the beach and a nearby highway for rocket launches or operations requires coordination with Cameron County authorities. Proposed state legislation sought to transfer this authority to the new city government.
SpaceX advocated for the shift, stating it would streamline operations needed for a company with contracts like those with the Department of Defense and NASA. Sheila McCorkle, SpaceX Vice President of Starship Legal and Regulatory, emphasized the company's Texas investments and mission.
"This fully reusable rocket system keeps the U.S. ahead of global competitors like China, and its being developed right here in South Texas,” McCorkle wrote to state lawmakers.
Opponents raised concerns that transferring control would limit public access to the beach. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. stated the county has managed beach closures properly and the change is unnecessary.
While one bill to shift beach closure authority failed in a state House panel this week, the move to incorporate the city is expected to pass. The proposed city would become a distinct local government.
Organized opposition has surfaced, with groups like the South Texas Environmental Justice Network protesting the city vote and related beach access efforts. They have been vocal about the impact of the company's expansion.
Despite the local pushback, the expected vote means SpaceX will soon operate within a municipality where the majority of voters and potential city officials have direct ties to the company.
McCorkle articulated the broader company vision in South Texas.
"We need to carry on our mission of turning South Texas into the Gateway to Mars and making humankind multiplanetary,” she wrote.