Despite the concerns, Bastrop County officials maintain that they don't have much of a say, as long as Musk's companies meet the limited permitting requirements for the rural area — which despite some initial hiccups, they have.
But things are starting to change as the capital city's swelling population pushes people east toward available and cheaper land. Large neighborhoods are popping up in the area, as are commercial projects — Musk's Tesla Inc. has established a huge electric vehicle factory and headquarters a few miles west of the Travis/Bastrop county line.
That concerns the county commissioner. He said that, based on planning, subdivisions will eventually run from the Bastrop County line east all the way to Bastrop city limits. He hopes county officials can get more authority on things like zoning to help keep homes affordable for current residents. Conversely, he said those rising costs make high-paying jobs like those offered by Boring Co. and SpaceX even more important.
Ambrose's main goal is more transparency, whether that's a public hearing for the wastewater dumping with TCEQ, or making sure permits are acquired and on display. He thinks public agencies can do more. Hamner said he's met with the neighbors who offered him a four-point plan of what they wanted fixed related to traffic, noise and pollution. The companies and county formed a working group that regularly meets, and he said that he keeps in touch with development services staffers to make sure they stay on track.