Starbase City Commission to Consider Annexation of More Than 7,000 Acres on Texas Coast

Starbase Schedules Vote on Major Expansion

The city of Starbase, Texas, is set to consider annexing approximately 7,133 acres of land during a Starbase City Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 18. The proposed annexation area includes both publicly and privately owned property and lies near Boca Chica Beach on the Texas coast.

According to the meeting agenda, the annexation discussion is scheduled to take place in executive session as part of the commission’s regular monthly meeting. The proposal involves thousands of acres beyond the current city limits and includes hundreds of acres of protected wildlands owned and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Current City Boundaries and Protected Lands

At the time of the incorporation election, Starbase’s municipal boundaries encompassed about 940 acres. The city is surrounded by state- and federally protected lands, including large portions of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. These protected areas serve as habitat for several endangered and threatened species, including the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, the northern Aplomado falcon, the piping plover, and the ocelot, which is described as the most endangered mammal in Texas.

The proposed annexation would significantly expand the footprint of Texas’ newest city less than a year after residents voted to incorporate the community. The city is home to a launch site associated with Elon Musk and is located a short distance from Boca Chica Beach.

Incorporation and City Leadership

Residents of the area voted to incorporate Starbase into a new city in an election held less than a year before the planned February 18 meeting. The incorporation effort was led by current and former SpaceX employees, who stated in their petition for an incorporation election that most Starbase residents either worked for SpaceX or were related to someone who did. Only six participants in the election voted against incorporation.

In that same election, residents chose the city’s first mayor and two commissioners. All three officials have ties to SpaceX. Mayor Robert “Bobby” Peden serves as vice president of “Texas Test and Launch.” Commissioner Jordan Buss holds the position of senior director of environmental, health and safety. Commissioner Jenna Petrzelka had worked for SpaceX prior to the election and later stepped down from office in December 2025.

Previous Authority Over Road Access

Following the incorporation vote, the Texas Legislature granted Starbase officials authority to shut down highway access during “spaceflight activities.” After that decision, local landowners attended public meetings to raise concerns about Starbase’s plans to install electronic access devices that would effectively close public streets.

A photograph dated Wednesday, November 19, 2025, shows construction cranes at the edge of the Starbase city limits. Another image from the same date depicts the Starbase City Commission during a regular meeting, including City Administrator Kent Myers, Commissioner Jordan Buss, Mayor Robert “Bobby” Peden, Commissioner Jenna Petrzelka, and City Clerk Caroline Cole.

Next Steps if Annexation Moves Forward

If the Starbase City Commission decides to proceed with the annexation plan, the city will call at least one public hearing and send notices to affected landowners, as outlined in the meeting agenda. These steps would follow commission deliberations over the 7,133-acre proposal.

During the same February 18 meeting, city leaders are also scheduled to consider several additional items. These include closing access to another public road through a “controlled access device,” establishing a municipal court, and submitting an application to state regulators to create a local police force.