FAIRHOPE, Ala. - The Fairhope Planning Commission will consider a proposal Monday to require that 25 percent of commercial parking lots be constructed of pervious materials, allowing stormwater to flow straight into the ground instead of running off into nearby waterways.

The city planning department “has been evaluating various alternative low-impact development technologies for improving the management of stormwater,” which resulted in the proposal for a minimum pervious paving requirement that would amend Fairhope zoning law, according to city records.

That runoff can carry sediment and pollutants into local creeks, rivers and bays and has resulted in fines and cleanup plans by the state environmental agency against two companies during the construction of major projects in the Fairhope area during the past two years.

The planning department cited a section of the city’s Comprehensive Plan that recommends several stormwater management strategies in support of its proposal.

“Develop standards or best-practices that demonstrate how to successfully minimize impervious surface or runoff on a site-specific basis,” Section 4 of the Comprehensive Plan states. “Techniques such as rain barrels, rain gardens, smaller paved surfaces, and alternative porous stabilized surfaces should be explored and promoted in appropriate circumstances.”

The Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board recently supported a similar pervious pavement requirement as that to be considered at Monday’s meeting.

“A minimum of 25 percent is recommended, although a higher percentage will be better,” the group’s Jan. 5 letter to the commission stated.

The Planning Commission meets at 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 7 in City Council chambers at the Fairhope Civic Center.