INSIDE the Shepherd’s Grove sanctuary in Garden Grove (SG photo).

The congregation that was moved out of the former Crystal Cathedral by its sale to the Catholic Diocese of Orange County may soon be facing another relocation. On Thursday, the Garden Grove Planning Commission approved a site plan and other measures for the construction of 70 single-family homes on what is now the site of the Shepherd’s Grove church at the northwest corner of Garden Grove Boulevard and Lewis Street.

Approval was given on a 6-0 vote, with Chair Andrew Kanzler absent. The project will still go to the city council for final approval.

With the sale of the cathedral and campus at Chapman Avenue and Lewis Street, the congregation swapped with the former St. Callistus Catholic Church further south on Lewis and renamed itself Shepherd’s Grove. That property is now to be sold to Shea Homes for the planned housing tract, and the congregation relocated. The cathedral is now called Christ Cathedral.

The change will not only move church-goers out, but will budge city boundaries a bit, too, as a segment of the proposed development is in the City of Orange. The final area will encompass 9.01 acres, including the annexation of 0.901 acres from Orange.

Under plans submitted by the developer, the new houses will be two-story buildings with four bedrooms and a two-car garage. The gated development would include a recreation area with a playground, an open turf area, two covered barbecue dining areas and a shade structure with bench seating.