Garden Grove : Church Expansion Plan to Be Heard by Council

The City Council tonight will consider a $20-million expansion plan by Crystal Cathedral for a six-story family center and cemetery--a plan rejected late last year by the city Planning Commission due to opposition from the church’s neighbors.

The Planning Commission denied the application on Dec. 12 after hearing complaints from neighbors who said the plan would increase traffic and parking problems in the area. The additions would displace about 300 parking spaces.

Church officials said the 119,000-square-foot center is needed for Christian education classes and child care. The center, planned for the southwest corner of the church’s 22-acre Chapman Avenue property, would include classrooms, a gymnasium, a theater, a library and a bookstore.

Church officials said they would contract with the Tishman West Management Corp. for parking at its office complex located across Lewis Street.

But neighbors said the plan is not compatible with the surrounding area and accused the church of trying to overbuild its property. Neighbors were also upset at the idea of constructing a 73,700-square-foot cemetery in the residential area.