On May 21, the city of Starbase said in a notice to Pompa and some other residents that officials were considering a new zoning ordinance and map. The recipients own property in parts of Starbase that fall under the proposed “Mixed Use District,” which “allows for a blend of residential, office, retail, and small-scale service uses,” according to the notice, signed by City Administrator Kent Myers.
Attached to the letter was a proposed zoning map identifying which parts of the city would fall under each of three classifications: a mixed-use district, an open space district and a heavy industrial area. Pompa’s property — which includes a deck overlooking the Rio Grande, from which he’s watched dozens of SpaceX test flights — falls in the proposed mixed-use district.
Pompa and other South Texas residents have expressed fear at what they see as encroachment by Musk, the world’s richest person and until recently a central figure of President Donald Trump’s administration. But land use experts said the changes outlined in Starbase’s letter are typical of those made by a new town.
