Tue Dec 17 00:40:00 UTC 2024: **SpaceX Seeks to Incorporate South Texas Launch Site as New City, “Starbase”**
**McALLEN, TX** – SpaceX is pushing to establish its South Texas launch site, Starbase, as a new incorporated city in Cameron County. Employees at the facility have submitted a petition to County Judge Eddie Treviño requesting a special election on the matter.
In a letter to Treviño, Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders highlighted the company’s significant investment in the region, including billions in infrastructure and hundreds of millions in revenue and taxes for local businesses and government. Lueders argued that incorporating Starbase would streamline processes for building essential amenities and improve the quality of life for the several hundred employees living on-site.
The proposed city, located about 25 miles east of Brownsville, currently includes launch pads, office space, and employee housing. SpaceX currently manages roads, utilities, schooling, and medical care for its employees due to the site’s remote location. Incorporation, according to Lueders, would transfer some of these responsibilities to a more appropriate public entity. The company assures that incorporation will not affect their environmental mitigation efforts, despite recent regulatory citations related to its water deluge system. Environmental concerns remain a point of contention for local groups.
SpaceX’s request follows a recent denial of a variance request that would have allowed the company to subdivide its residential area for more housing lots. The company states that adequate on-site housing is crucial for accommodating its growing workforce, with hundreds of employees currently on a waiting list.
The creation of Starbase as a city would echo historical precedents where cities developed around single industries, similar to Sugar Land’s origins tied to the Imperial Sugar Company. County Judge Treviño has yet to comment on the petition.
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