Starbase Zoning Plan Threatens Residents' Property Rights

Residents of Starbase, Texas—formerly Boca Chica Village and newly incorporated as a type-C municipal corporation after a local election—have been warned they may lose current property use rights under a proposed zoning ordinance. The ordinance would create a 'Mixed Use District,' potentially changing permissible uses and affecting homeowners, with a public hearing set for June 23, 2025. City administrator and SpaceX employee Kent Myers sent the legally required notifications under Texas law. Starbase has about 500 residents, over half of whom are SpaceX employees or their relatives, and serves as the site for Starship rocket tests. The latest test flight ended in a third consecutive explosion, though no injuries or public property damage were reported. Elon Musk has stated these failures are valuable learning experiences for SpaceX's pursuit of interplanetary travel.