Oct. 7, 2026 · The SpaceX deal Starbase votes on tonight, in writing: 45 years, about 166 acres at Massey's, city permits and no zoning

October 7, 2026 · Breaking · City of Starbase

The SpaceX deal Starbase votes on tonight, in writing: 45 years, about 166 acres at Massey's, city permits and no zoning

The title page of the Starbase and SpaceX development agreement beside the surveyor's description of the 166.2-acre tract — The agreement's title page and the surveyor's description of the land, from the city's Oct. 7 meeting packet. Document: City of Starbase.

The City of Starbase posted the packet for tonight's 7 p.m. commission meeting this afternoon. It includes the full 28-page development agreement with SpaceX that we previewed Oct. 4, when only the agenda line was public.

The land: about 166.2 acres on the south side of Highway 4, running along Massey Way down to the Rio Grande, per the surveyor's description attached to the agreement. Massey Way is the road to Massey's, SpaceX's test site. The land is outside city limits, in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction.

What the agreement says:

45 years, which the agreement calls "the maximum duration permitted" under the state law it uses, Section 212.172.
Starbase becomes the permit office. The city reviews plans, inspects, and issues building permits, certificates of occupancy and plat approvals for the land, as if it were inside city limits. The stated goal is that SpaceX "deals with the City as its single local reviewing authority and does not draw on the financial and personnel resources of the County."
No zoning. City building, fire, plumbing, electrical and flood codes apply as contract terms. Zoning does not: SpaceX "may use and develop the Subject Land for any lawful use the Owner elects."
Not an annexation. The agreement "is not a petition for annexation, a consent to annexation, or an agreement that the Subject Land will be annexed." SpaceX can end it at any time with written notice. The city can end it only for a material breach that SpaceX doesn't cure after notice, generally within 30 days.
Limits on the city: no permit moratorium unless it applies citywide, and no fees higher than inside the city. The city will treat SpaceX's plans as potentially confidential under the Texas Public Information Act and tell SpaceX when someone asks for them. The attorney general or a court still decides what must be released.
Cover for the county: SpaceX agrees to indemnify Cameron County, list it as an insured, and pay for county-approved outside lawyers if the county is sued over the deal.

Also in tonight's packet:

A 2-acre gift for emergency services. SpaceX is giving the city 2.01 acres on the north side of Highway 48 "for emergency services facilities." The parcel is out of the Garcia-Doughtery property, the same larger property as the 444-acre Garcia Lot the city annexed Sept. 21. A second resolution starts annexing the 2 acres, with hearings Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at City Hall and on Oct. 28. The agenda still marks the Oct. 28 time and place "CONFIRM."
Giving up streets: Ordinance 2026-30 sets the city's process for abandoning public streets, alleys, right-of-way and easements. Each request needs notice to neighboring owners, a public hearing, and a commission finding that it serves the public interest.
The first-year budget: draft minutes of the Sept. 21 meeting, up for approval tonight, show the commission closed out the city's first budget year by lowering budgeted revenue from $494,719 to $204,500 and raising spending from about $1.85 million to $2,342,521. The minutes cite salaries and benefits not originally budgeted, higher legal fees, police equipment and software, and beach grading, and record staff saying general fund resources were sufficient.
The city attorney: a consent item names Gavriel Schreiber of Spencer Fane as city attorney. The firm's engagement letter lists his rate at $672 an hour, which it says already includes a 20% discount for the city. It says the firm does not represent SpaceX, and it discloses that the firm represents SEMCO LLC, an air-duct maker that "has previously had long-term contracts with SpaceX," and the Starbase Economic Development Corporation.
Road delays: the city has posted delays from 11:59 p.m. tonight to 4 a.m. Thursday, and 11:59 p.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday, both listed as "Production to Masseys." Boca Chica Beach is open.

We'll post the result after tonight's vote.

Sources: City of Starbase, Oct. 7 meeting packet (agreement on pages 45 to 72) · City of Starbase, commission meetings · City of Starbase, beach and road access (read Oct. 7) · Texas Local Government Code 212.172 · OpenStreetMap, Massey Way

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