California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 30007.5

The Legislature further finds and recognizes that conflicts may occur between one or more policies of the division.  The Legislature therefore declares that in carrying out the provisions of this division such conflicts be resolved in a manner which on balance is the most protective of significant coastal resources.  In this context, the Legislature declares that broader policies which, for example, serve to concentrate development in close proximity to urban and employment centers may be more protective, overall, than specific wildlife habitat and other similar resource policies.