That creates an entirely different set of problems though. You'd have to predict a space that was opening to apply for the permit. Then "local" businesses can

That creates an entirely different set of problems though. You'd have to predict a space that was opening to apply for the permit. Then "local" businesses can object so you couldn't just get a blanket permit, it'd have to be for the specific place, so you just have to wait around until that storefront is vacant? If you start while it's vacant, it'd be pretty terrible if you went through the whole process only to have someone else beat you to it. If you only allow one process at a time, you're stopping the property owner from collecting rent during that process. Any regulatory process that takes time shifts some cost onto someone.