Yarmouth Bluffs consists of 54 condominiums grouped in clusters of 3 to 6 units that are distributed along both sides of Bluff Road in Yarmouth, Maine. This quiet location still provides easy access to Interstate 295 and is near enough to the Yarmouth shopping area that active adults can walk there. The units are of a similar contemporary design but with a number of different floor plans that include both one and two-level living and with sizes that range from 1300 sq. ft. to over 2600 sq. ft. All the units include a two car garage and a number have basements. The units in the first phase of development were built in 1985 and the final phase was completed in 1991.
Yarmouth Bluffs sits on 64 acres that include both landscaped and wild areas. It abuts Yarmouth town conservation property that includes several trails. The units are carefully arranged to maximize privacy and to provide views of the landscape, and owners take pride in making this a quiet, safe, and friendly place to live. There are no recreational facilities. The focus is on maintenance of buildings and grounds to make this a lovely place to reside. The concept of condominium ownership works well here. Many owners participate in the volunteer work days that not only help to keep costs down but also provide occasions for social events.
A significant number of owners at Yarmouth Bluffs are retired. There are also some working singles and couples living here, some with children. Several owners maintain their condo as a seasonal “Summer” home while others disappear to their “camps” in the summer. However, most owners enjoy living here year round. Almost all the units are owner occupied, but a few are rented.
The Yarmouth Bluffs Condominium Association (YBCA) is the organization of owners that manages Yarmouth Bluffs. It is self-managed with the authority for governance vested in an elected Board of Directors who are all resident owners. The association holds a budget workshop in December and an annual meeting in January of each year. At the annual meeting the budget is voted upon, new Board members are elected, and reports from the past year are presented. Owners are encouraged to take an active role in the association and its committees. All owners are responsible for sharing in the policy, fiscal, and managerial decisions that are necessary to ensure that the Association remains a desirable community in which to live.
The responsibilities of the association include providing all exterior maintenance, painting and staining, grounds maintenance, snow removal services and capital improvements. Most of the work is done by various vendors and contractors that are supervised by the board members. The monthly Board of Directors meeting is open to all and addresses plans, issues and finances. A monthly maintenance fee, which is the same for all units, covers both the current operating costs as well as reserves for future capital expenses.
