A judge on Friday knocked down a new, controversial Newark rule that allowed much taller buildings in a largely residential section of the city -- effectively halting a 12-story building planned for the Ironbound.

The city ordinance, approved last year, riled local activists who said boosting building heights to 12- and 20-stories was out of character with the rest of the walkable neighborhood.

"It wasn't appropriate for that particular area," said James Powell, a spokesman for PLANewark, the group that challenged the ordinance in court. "We really feel like it's not a blank check and the city should be more mindful of each particular area in the city."

While it's clear development is knocking on Newark's door, residents say they want a say in what their city will look like, too.

PLANewark sued the city clerk, City Council and planning board, alleging the ordinance, known as MX3, was inconsistent with Newark's master plan. The group said residents were not given proper notice of the zoning changes and were not allowed to comment on the measure during a public hearing.

On Friday, Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels voided the ordinance and any related approvals granted under it.

The planning board previously approved a 12-story, 403-unit residential building with 3,300 square-feet of retail space for 28-50 McWhorter Street and 51-57 Union Street. Jose Lopez, president of J&L Companies, who owns the land, was the first to propose a development under the new ordinance.

Under the ruling, the project can't move forward.

Calls to a Lopez representative and the planning board were not returned.

In a statement to NJ Advance Media, Newark spokesman Frank Baraff said the city was "disappointed with the judge's decision.

"We are reviewing the decision to decide whether to appeal the decision or refile to clear up some of the technical issues," he said.

"PLANewark is not naysayers, we want development but we're trying to get the process more open and transparent," said Renee Steinhagen, an attorney with New Jersey Appleseed, who represented Newark residents in the case.

Jorge Sanchez, another attorney representing PLANewark, said the invalidation of the ordinance "is a testament to the collective effort of common, regular and ordinary people that got together to say no to the illegal top-down development that would have benefitted only a handful of people."

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.