Initially, the high-end Cul-De-Sac residents in West Lake Hills, Texas, did not know who moved to the 6900 square feet palace, from six neighboring bedrooms.
Then the construction workers arrived to establish a 16 -foot chain chain fence on the property of $ 6 million, which is one of the four houses on the lush street. They also installed an external camera. After that, a fleet of cars – many of them began to shed – parking in the street. Three times a day, changing the transformation of the next security personnel and going home indicates. Once, a passing car driver shouted late at night that he was looking for a party at “Eit E”.
Nobody likes the noise, traffic, or the gate opening that has been activated at the key levels of workers and cars in all hours. So even when they learned through an oral word, their new neighbor was Elon MuskThe richest man in the world, some of them did not prevent the move to West Lake Hills around his palace.
The complaints have escalated since then a stir about the city’s decrees, permits and exceptions known as the differences – to the extent that the issue of Mr. Musk’s house fell at the meeting of the Committee to divide the controversial areas last month. The discussion is heading next to the West Hills City Council session, scheduled for May 14.
“The transfer of service employees to other homes, leaving their cars in our quiet streets, and withdrawing washing to other homes, it must stop,” Paul Hemmar, one of the neighbors and the main complainant, wrote to the District Division and Planning Committee. The message was also signed by the occupations of two other houses on the street.
Over the past few months, Mr. Musk, 53, has done, He was scived on his way across WashingtonIt abandons the long traditions and pirates that the unnecessary federal bureaucracy considered. But in his rear yard outside Austin, the technical billionaire became steeped in a maze of local regulations and red tape. No one, apparently, rich enough to escape from neighbors.
Mongols including Mark Zuckerberg Sometimes the limits of their wealth and relationships have sometimes struck the differences about their luxury homes. Likewise, Mr. Musk, who is losing so far against the municipal bureaucracy in West Lake Hills. Local records showed that he and his employees did not obtain permits for a metal gate and a fence built around the property, making the chain link structure the longest 10 feet of what was permitted. In total, construction violated six ceremonies in the city. After some neighbors protested, Mr. Musk team tried to obtain permission retroactively for projects.
But Jim Bedgger, one of the six commissioners at the West Lake Hills Committee for Planning and Planning, said that he and his colleagues voted unanimously last month against the recommendation of the owner of the house – was keen not to name Mr. Musk – with discounts for projects. If an exception is made, Mr. Pledger said, “We will stimulate people to break the rules.”
Unless the city council differs with this decision, Mr. Musk faces the possibility of demolishing the fence and gate or changing it to comply with the city’s rules.
Mr. Musk did not return requests for comment. The house associated with the property refused to comment.
The history of Mr. Musk in Texas is relatively modern. Technology pole, which oversees six companies, Move Most of his commercial operations to the state from California starting in 2021. He built factories for his electric car company, Tesla, his missile company, SpaceX, and the tunnels project, boring company, around Austin and Bastrop neighboring.
Mr. Musk also transferred himself to Austin. He initially wanted to build homes for himself and his children (he has at least 13) on hundreds of acres he bought there. After the plan fell, he looked at the other property.
In 2022, Mr. Musk bought the West Lake Hills home through a limited liability company, which was called the name of the street where the property sits. The house is located in the center of a residential neighborhood at the bottom of about two acres of lands descending from a narrow public road, which makes security a challenge.
“The castles are supposed to be built on the hills, right?” Ann Yakil, a resident of West Lake Hills, said for a long time living around the corner. “These were sophisticated buyers, and if security was the main guidance, this was not the house.”
Mr. Musk and his employees did not present themselves to the neighbors. Few population saw there. But Word quickly traveled in the 3400 community, and everyone soon knew that he had moved.
“It is a common knowledge here,” Mrs. Yeakel said.
The palace has been one of the three that Mr. Musk bought in the region over the past three years to Create a complex For his children and mothers. At some point, Claire Botcher, known as the Graims musician, lived with Mr. Musk and their three children at home. Chiffon Zelis, an executive of brain technology who has four children with Mr. Musk, lives about 10 minutes on foot. Mr. Musk also bought another Tuscan palace about a year ago.
The neighbors soon became frustrated by the continuous Hubbub at home. They saw people who come and go carry weapons, like Security team Balloon along with safety fears Mr. Musk. Although Texas is lenient Arms lawsThe activity.
“I call this place Fort Nox.”
The neighbors said that the house was quieter in the days when Mr. Musk was not in the city, especially in recent months, when he often lived in Washington to advise President Trump. Now the residents are preparing to return Mr. Musk, after he said he would do Spend less time in the capital.
Some neighbors have become particularly disturbed by the huge fence in front of the palace, as well as the giant metal gate at the other end of the property, which seems to be an entrance to the employee.
Mr. Hemmar, who has long owned Tesla, has become so frustrated with his neighbor to the point that he started flying a drone at home to check the city’s violations, and keeps a video camera trained around the clock. Last year, West Lake Hills complained about Mr. Musk’s fence, traffic and how he thought the owner was running a security company from the property.
The security team in Mr. Musk also contacted the West Lake Hills Police Department about Mr. Hummermar, according to the city’s records. A security official accused Mr. Himmer last year of being naked in the street, according to the records.
Mr. Hemmar denied that he was naked and said he was in his property wearing black underwear. He said that on another night, he was walking his dogs completely and stopped when he suddenly needed urination – which was seized by Mr. Musk’s camera.
“The cameras have happened to me,” said Mr. Hummermarmar. “It is frightening to have young people sitting and watching me.”
After repeated memories of Mr. Himmer, West Lake Hills officials found that Mr. Musk had violated the city’s laws with the fence and gate. Last month, the Division and Planning Committee discussed whether it would give it a difference in projects.
Before the meeting, TISHA Ritta, a statement expert working for Mr. Musk Ltd., wrote a letter to the Planning Committee that requests relief from the city’s bases.
She wrote, according to a copy of the letter: “As a high -ranking public official, the resident in the property faces continuous security threats, which makes pre -emptive safety measures necessary.” Mrs. Rita did not respond to suspension requests.
Mr. Hemmer and other residents wrote their own message to the Planning Committee, which is moving their neighbor to facilitate the “bad behavior of our CUL-Dee-SAC Quiet”.
For some time, Mr. Musk seemed ready to win the battle of the neighborhood. Planning and division officials recommended granting his property “hardship of hardship”, which would allow him to preserve the fence and other projects with only small changes to the property, according to the city documents.
But at the planning meeting, Commissioners, Mr. Musk, rejected the differences. When they interrogated Mrs. Rita, she blamed a former house manager for their failure to obtain construction permits.
She said, according to the meeting, “I met the property owner last year, and unfortunately they were under the supervision of the director of the real estate,” she said.
Mr. Hemmer also spoke at the meeting to say that he suspects that the owner of the house was misleading.
“If you are absolutely followed in the news, it is always guilty in building things and then asked for permission later,” he said.
One of the commissioners, whose identity has not been determined in the recording, said that she could not believe that West Lake Hills staff recommended that the owner of the house receive any exceptions.
She said, “I am surprised that the employees make any kind of suggestions that we bow according to who is asking.”
The Planning Committee’s decision does not end the process. At the meeting of the next West Lake Hills Council, members must decide whether they will hold on to the commissioners’ recommendation regarding Mr. Musk Palace.
If the city council votes against it, Mr. Musk can prosecute the city. And if that does not succeed – and give his record in Support the candidates There are always the following local elections.
Kirsten Nuiz The research contributed.
