A Los Angeles Superior Court judge upheld the city of Los Angeles’ rejection of the controversial 5,553-home Las Lomas real estate development project in the Antelope Valley, dealing a serious setback to the project.

Judge David Yaffe threw out a lawsuit by Las Lomas Land Co. that sought to overturn a City Council vote in March, which directed the Planning Department to stop processing the application for the 555-acre project at Interstate 5 and State Route 14, also known as the Antelope Valley Freeway.

Los Lomas Land Co. filed suit for $100 million in June, alleging the council violated state law and the constitutional right to due process.

“I am delighted that after six years of fighting this ill-conceived project, it appears to be finally dead,” said Councilman Greig Smith in a statement. The judge’s Friday ruling was announced by Smith’s office late Monday.

Smith had led coalition of community and environmental advocates who opposed the development, which in addition to the homes would have added 2 million square feet of commercial space and a 300-room hotel to a portion of the northern San Fernando Valley already seen as having significant traffic problems.

Las Lomas Land representatives said they are considering an appeal.