The National City Planning Commission on Monday voted 4-1 to reject a controversial fuel depot on the city’s west side that would have brought a steady stream of oil tanker rail cars and big rig trucks to an industrial neighborhood abutting homes, churches and an elementary school.

Before a packed and vocal audience of residents, environmental activists and community leaders, planning commissioners said the proposal to build a biofuels transfer station on derelict railroad property less than a mile from City Hall would endanger residents’ health and perpetuate what they called a “cycle” of unwise development decisions in the city.

“National City is not a dumping ground,” said Planning Commissioner Randi Castle-Salgado after casting a no vote on the project. “This is part of the environme

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