SpaceX has filed a petition with Cameron County to hold a special election for the incorporation of its Starbase site, located in South Texas according to Associated Press. The company aims to establish the site as an official city to support its growing workforce of over 3,400 employees and contractors. General Manager Kathryn Lueders outlined the intention in a letter, emphasizing the necessity of a community to facilitate the rapid development and manufacturing of the Starship rocket.
SpaceX files for city incorporation at Starbase site
The area in question is situated at Boca Chica Beach, near the Mexican border. This move comes after Elon Musk announced plans earlier this year to relocate SpaceX and his social media company X from California to Texas. Lueders noted in her correspondence that the transformation into an incorporated city is essential for streamlining the development of infrastructure, which currently includes launch pads, office spaces, and portable homes for employees.
This is not the first consideration of establishing Starbase as a city. Musk initially floated the idea in a 2021 social media post, indicating growing aspirations for the site. Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. acknowledged that while discussions date back to 2021, this is the first time an official petition has been submitted.
Treviño stated that the county’s legal and elections administration will review the petition to ensure compliance with all statutory requirements. Lueders highlighted the community benefits of incorporation, claiming that it would allow for proper management of civil functions already performed by SpaceX due to the site’s isolation.
Despite the economic contributions from SpaceX, including significant investments in local infrastructure and tax revenues, the rapid expansion has drawn opposition from some community members. A local environmental group, Save RGV, filed a lawsuit against SpaceX in July, claiming the company committed environmental violations, including allegations of improperly disposing of polluted water into local waterways. SpaceX has dismissed this lawsuit as “frivolous,” asserting that a state review found no environmental risks associated with its operations.
Regulatory concerns have surfaced as well. The company was cited for not having proper authorization for its water deluge system, which further complicates the integration of its operations with local environmental standards. Local officials have denied requests from SpaceX for modifications to its residential area, heightening tensions between the company and community advocates concerned about environmental sustainability.
In the context of its ambitions, SpaceX likens Starbase to historical company towns, such as Sugar Land, Texas, built around a single corporation. Lueders expressed that incorporation would enhance the quality of life in the area by developing needed amenities and ensuring that the management of municipal functions falls under a more appropriate governance framework.
As the petition for incorporation is reviewed, the situation remains fluid. Local responses and investigations into SpaceX’s compliance with environmental regulations are ongoing, with stakeholders on all sides keenly observing the unfolding developments.
Featured image credit: Starbase Brewery
