The alternative to zoning isn’t to let anyone do whatever they want, it’s a planning permission process. Where I am, if you own a building that has permission t

The alternative to zoning isn’t to let anyone do whatever they want, it’s a planning permission process. Where I am, if you own a building that has permission to be a cafe, you can convert it to a shop easily but you can’t convert it to a pub without getting further planning permission. The trick is there’s nothing in particular stopping someone obtaining planning permission to open a cafe or shop or pub or barber or gambling establishment near people’s homes, as long as there’s an argument it’s good for the community. The result of this is that I live within 10 minutes’ walk of nearly everything I need, from a supermarket to my doctor.