WASHINGTON — After a bitter and long battle,  major retail giant Costco was handed a defeat in court Friday over its plans to put a mega gas station in a residential neighborhood near its store in Wheaton, Maryland.

The defeat is a major victory for residents of the Kensington Heights neighborhood. They have been fighting the company every step of the way since 2010 to stop the 16-pump gas station from being built near their community. Residents say they don’t want the heavy traffic it would bring or the possible negative health effects.

Costco was denied a special exception from the Montgomery County zoning board. Company officials declined to comment when contacted by WTOP.

Costco took the case to court in November. On Friday, a Montgomery County circuit court judge ruled against Costco’s appeal of the special exception. But this fight may not be over since the retailer could take its case to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in Annapolis.

WTOP’s Kathy Stewart contributed to this report